Late surge pushes Port of Los Angeles to 9.2m teu

The Port of Los Angeles handled 9.2m teu last year with a late surge of pandemic-induced consumer spending helping to boost volumes to near 2019 levels.

In the third and fourth quarters of 2020, cargo volumes increased 50% over the first half of the year, with the West Coast hub handling 94% more traffic the week before Christmas compared to the same week in 2019. Over the whole year, the port recorded a 1.5% drop in volumes.

Gene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles, said: “Our container business in 2020 was the most erratic we have ever seen, with volumes plunging nearly 19% in the first five months of the year, followed by an unprecedented second-half surge.”