Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles beat out 2022 monthly figures for a second consecutive month, after the port handled 748,440 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) during September, a 5.4% year-over-year increase.

During September, 392,608 TEUs of loaded imports landed at the port, a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Loaded exports came in at 120,635 TEUs, a 55% rise from September 2022 and the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year monthly export gains.

Empty containers handled at the port fell by 18.5% year-over-year to 235,197 TEUs. 

Despite the rises in monthly volumes, the figures for the first nine months of 2023 reached a total of only 6,398,126 TEUs, an 18.6% decrease from the same period last year.

“September was another good month, with imports up 14% and exports jumping 55%,” said Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka. “Exports are trending up, and that’s good news because narrowing the trade gap boosts the U.S. economy. Additionally, export jobs on average pay more than work in other segments. With a long-term dockworker contract in place, we’re seeing more cargo shifting back to Los Angeles. The table is set to scale up as demand increases.”