Containerized imports declined slightly at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in July compared to the same month last year, as the ports handling fell short of an especially strong summer in 2010, the Journal of Commerce.
Imports last month declined 3.2 percent in Los Angeles and 1.2 percent in Long Beach. The Port of Los Angeles noted that July 2010 was an unusually strong month as container volumes increased 27 percent over July 2009.
The summer of 2010 was unconventional in that retailers shipped early and containerized shipments from Asia peaked in August. Retailers reacted to vessel space shortages and a severe equipment shortage in early 2010 by shipping their holiday merchandise earlier than usual last year.
This year should see a more conventional peak season, with the months of September and October expected to be the strongest months of the year. However, given the current economic soft patch and declining consumer confidence in the U.S. economy, the Port of Los Angeles said conditions are too volatile to make an accurate prediction as to what container volumes will look like this fall.
Nevertheless, the July imports at both ports were the highest monthly containerized import counts of the year so far.
Exports have been up all year and growth continued in July. Exports increased 12.8 percent in Los Angeles over the same month last year. Exports were up 0.6 percent in Long Beach.
A report from Beacon Economics on exports of all kinds from the state of California during the month of June corroborates the port trends. The report lags the port numbers by one month. Beacon said export shipments from California companies in June increased 13 percent over the same month last year. June marked the 20th consecutive month of growth in exports from California.
A sharp drop in empty containers being returned to Asia in July pulled down the total port numbers in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Imports, exports and empties were down 5.8 percent in Los Angeles and 2.5 percent in Long Beach compared to July 2010.
