Cargo slides in July at the Port of Long Beach
Tariffs continue to hamper trans-Pacific trade
Port of Long Beach cargo volumes last month were down from the previous July, when the number of containers moved through the harbor neared 700,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The July 2019 total, 621,780 TEUs, was 9.7% less than last year. Imports decreased 9.9% to 313,350 TEUs, and exports shrank 6.8% to 111,654 TEUs. Empties were 11% lower, at 196,777 TEUs.
“The trade war is hitting the West Coast hard,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “For more than a year, the supply chain has bent under the weight, and there’s very little give left. If the tariffs continue and escalate as planned next month, American consumers could see higher prices during the holiday season as businesses pass along their costs.”
Through July, more than 4.3 million TEUs have moved through the Port’s terminals, 7.2% fewer than at the same point last year.
The latest monthly cargo numbers are here.
For more detailed cargo numbers, visit www.polb.com/stats.
The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 175 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $200 billion in trade annually, supporting more than 575,000 Southern California jobs.
