Los Angeles breaks cargo volume record

The port moved more cargo in 2017 than in any time during its 110-year history, a 5.5% increase over the port’s 2016 total and the most cargo moved annually by a Western Hemisphere port.

“2017 was a year beyond expectations but it was not by chance,” said Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka. “Our growth is a direct result of a concerted, multi-year effort by the Port and its many partners to maximize efficiency throughout the supply chain. All the collaborative work by a broad range of global maritime stakeholders has delivered these remarkable results.”

Contributing factors

Supply chain efficiencies implemented by the port in 2017 included technology upgrades, like the new ‘Port Optimizer’ digital information portal developed in collaboration with GE Transportation. The optimiser aggregates key cargo data online to facilitate better cargo tracking, projections and productivity.

The port said infrastructure upgrades like those completed at TraPac Container Terminal and Yusen Terminals, Inc. during 2017 continue to boost its ability to service increasingly larger ships and more efficiently facilitate cargo movement throughout its terminals.

December imports decreased 2.2% to 385,492 teus, confirmed the port. Exports also decreased 7.3% to 152,865 teus. Along with a 1.5% rise in empty containers, overall December containers were 779,210 teus, an overall decrease of 2.2% compared to the previous year.

The port has produced a video discussing the cargo record, the port’s growth and the vote by the Harbour Commissions of Los Angeles and Long Beach to “modernise” the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) to bring in the first low and zero emissions technology for trucks and port handling equipment.