Los Angeles port up 1.7pc to 8 million TEU in 2012, but strike hurt

THE Port of Los Angeles ended 2012 on a positive note after handling 8,077,714 TEU, an increase of 1.7 per cent in overall cargo volumes compared to 2011.

A statement from port authority said the achievement marks the third time in the port's history to eclipse eight million TEU.

On the other hand, December volumes were described as being soft, after falling 9.4 per cent to 588,154 TEU compared to the same month a year earlier. December imports dropped 6.7 per cent to 296,874 TEU, while exports declined 16.4 per cent to 147,417 TEU year-on-year.

Part of the problem was that terminals at Los Angeles were strike-bound when 600 clerical workers walked out and members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to cross their picket lines and cargo diverted to other ports.

Combined, total loaded imports and exports for December decreased by 10.2 per cent, from 494,886 TEU in December 2011 to 444,291 TEU in December 2012. Factoring in empties, which fell by 6.9 per cent year-on-year, overall December 2012 volumes dropped 9.4 per cent.