The volume of imported freight through the Port Of Los Angeles ticked up 5.5 percent in October, compared to the year-ago period, although it still slipped one percent sequentially from September, Cargonews Asia reports. Port spokesman Phillip Sanfield called the year-over-year volume growth a positive development but said it doesn't change the port's overall outlook for a muted pre-holiday peak shipping season this year, reported Dow Jones Newswires.
"We're not seeing this as any kind of significant change," Sanfield said.
October statistics from the nearby Port of Long Beach weren't yet available. Together the big West Coast ports account for about 40 percent of US inbound containerised cargo traffic, loaded mainly with consumer goods from Asia.
Loaded inbound containers through the Los Angeles port numbered 368,842 last month, up from 349,545 in October 2010 but down sequentially from 372,655 in September.
A number of shipping industry observers have forecast a soft peak shipping season this year, saying retailers have been tightly monitoring inventories amid the slow economy and uncertain consumer demand. Peak season traditionally begins around July and last through the fall as retailers build inventories to accommodate back-to-school and holiday shoppers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles port continued to see a strong rise in export cargo, buoyed by the weak dollar that has been boosting overseas demand for US goods. Outbound loaded containers handled by the port numbered 193,547 last month, up 28 percent from the year-ago period.
"We're not seeing this as any kind of significant change," Sanfield said.
October statistics from the nearby Port of Long Beach weren't yet available. Together the big West Coast ports account for about 40 percent of US inbound containerised cargo traffic, loaded mainly with consumer goods from Asia.
Loaded inbound containers through the Los Angeles port numbered 368,842 last month, up from 349,545 in October 2010 but down sequentially from 372,655 in September.
A number of shipping industry observers have forecast a soft peak shipping season this year, saying retailers have been tightly monitoring inventories amid the slow economy and uncertain consumer demand. Peak season traditionally begins around July and last through the fall as retailers build inventories to accommodate back-to-school and holiday shoppers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles port continued to see a strong rise in export cargo, buoyed by the weak dollar that has been boosting overseas demand for US goods. Outbound loaded containers handled by the port numbered 193,547 last month, up 28 percent from the year-ago period.