Low consumer demand and shifting trade routes see Long Beach cargo volumes drop

Container traffic at the Port of Long Beach declined by 20% in April as consumers limited purchases and shippers shuffled trade from the US West Coast to ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

The port handled 656,049 teu with imports down by 22% and empty containers falling by 26%. In contrast, exports were up by 1%.

During the first four months of the year, volumes have fallen by 28% to 2,377,375 teu at the Port of Long Beach.