Los Angeles container volumes increase 4.6% in October 2014
The Port of Los Angeles has released its October 2014 containerized cargo volumes. In October 2014, overall volumes increased 4.6 percent compared to October 2013. Total cargo for October was 715,682 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), the company said in its press release.
For the first ten months of calendar year 2014, overall volumes (7,018,152 TEUs) have increased 7.5 percent compared to the same period in 2013 (6,531,374 TEUs). The increase reflects the conclusion of peak season volumes and larger vessels calling at the Port of Los Angeles.
Container imports increased 7.2 percent, from 346,137 TEUs in October 2013 to 370,938 TEUs in October 2014. Exports declined 6.7 percent, from 169,568 TEUs in October 2013 to 158,181 TEUs in October 2014. U.S. exports have declined in 2014 due to weaker demand abroad and a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods more expensive.
Combined, total loaded imports and exports increased 2.6 percent, from 515,705 TEUs in October 2013 to 529,119 TEUs in October 2014. Factoring in empties, which increased 10.7 percent year over year, overall October 2014 volumes (715,682 TEUs) rose 4.6 percent compared to October 2013 (684,207 TEUs).