Los Angeles and Long Beach Port Traffic Grows in December 2009

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reported today the first increases in monthly container cargo numbers since the recession hit.

Imported cargo at the port of Long Beach increased by more than 13 percent in December compared with a year earlier, and exports jumped by more than 30 percent. Los Angeles port officials said total container traffic was up 0.35 percent.

Imported cargo at the port of Long Beach, mostly consumer goods, reached 232,586 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units) in December. Export cargo, generally raw materials, reached 123,084 TEUs.

Los Angeles reported 562,990 TEUs of import cargo and 153,836 TEUs of export cargo. Port officials did not break out an import percentage increase, but said loaded container exports rose 40 percent.

The container traffic increases in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles is a good sign for the local economy. The positive container traffic increases might be an early sign of a potential economic recovery in the Los Angeles region.

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