Port of Long Beach Sees Softened Cargo Volumes in September

Diminishing consumer demand, full warehouses and inflation concerns led to a decline in cargo containers moved through the Port of Long Beach in September.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 741,823 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo containers last month, down 0.9% from September 2021. Imports decreased 7.4% to 342,671 TEUs, while exports increased 1.9% to 112,940 TEUs. Empty containers moved through the Port rose 7% to 286,212 TEUs.

“Consumers and retailers are concerned about inflation, leading to warehouses filled with inventory and fewer product orders from Asia,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “The respite is leading to increased capacity on the docks and fewer ships waiting off the coast to enter the Port.”

“We appreciate our longshore labor, marine terminal operators, truckers and all of our other industry partners who continue to move cargo quickly, reliably and sustainably,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “We’re hoping to close the year on a positive note that focuses on our efforts to improve cargo flow while dramatically enhancing air quality.”

Consumers are growing more cautious with spending as the economy faces persistent inflation and aggressive tightening by the Federal Reserve.

The Port of Long Beach has moved 7,342,383 TEUs during the first nine months of 2022, up 3.5% from the same period in 2021. Additionally, the Port processed 2,334,605 TEUs between July 1 and Sept. 30, down 0.3% from the third quarter of 2021.

For complete cargo numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. As the second-busiest container seaport in the United States, the Port handles trade valued at more than $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs across the nation, including 575,000 in Southern California.