Breakbulk volumes at the Port of Long Beach slipped during the previous month as the start of the traditional peak shipping season was on the modest side. The port said in its latest review that warehouses remained overstocked and consumers continued to pivot toward travel and other summertime activities.

The port noted that its breakbulk throughput landed at 102,894 tons during August slipping 5.85 per cent down from 109,287 tons reported in August 2022.

For the year so far, Port of Long Beach had a breakbulk cargo throughput of 746,784 tons, some 13.49 per cent below the 863,273 tons reported during the first eight months of 2022.

Overall throughput declines

Overall, dockworkers and terminal operators moved 682,312 twenty-foot equivalent units last month, a 15.4 per cent decline from August 2022. Imports decreased 15.4 per cent to 325,436 TEUs, while exports were down 23.1 per cent to 93,402 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port declined 12.5 per cent to 263,474 TEUs.

“We anticipated a modest peak season as our cargo numbers continue to stabilize at pre-pandemic levels,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Over the long term, we are strengthening our competitiveness by investing in digital and physical infrastructure projects that will keep goods moving efficiently for decades to come.”

“We are collaborating with our industry partners to grow market share while moving goods reliably and sustainably,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “We intend to close the year on a positive note that focuses on our efforts to improve cargo flow and secure our position as the premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade.”

The Port has moved 4,993,237 TEUs during the first eight months of 2023, down 24.4 per cent from the same period last year. Cargo flows this year have been on pace with pre-pandemic levels, when the Port of Long Beach moved more than 4.9 million TEUs through August 2019.