Container Volume Through Long Beach Shows Steep Decline in February, Port Says

Congestion issues at West Coast ports caused container terminals at the Port of Long Beach to move 20 percent fewer containers in February compared to the same month in 2014, said the port on March 17 (here). Imports were down 24.7 percent at the Port of Long Beach, and exports fell 22.9 percent. Empty containers moving overseas fell by 3.9 percent, it said. Although February marked the third straight month of drastic declines in containers moving through the port, the outlook for the future is rosier on account of the deal struck in February by longshoremen and West Coast ports (see 1502230002), said the Port of Long Beach. Also contributing to congestion relief going forward is the approval of a deal between the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to collaborate on congestion relief, and private chassis fleets in the region reaching an agreement to pool their resources, said the port.