Robust throughput at Port of LA points to transpacific resilience

Officials at the Port of Los Angeles, report that year to date, container volumes are up 17 percent, underscoring the continued reliance shippers have on transpacific calls to West Coast ocean cargo gateways.

“The Panama Canal expansion is one of those issues that everybody talks about, yet nobody is clear on the implications for the Southern California Ports,” said Marianne Venieris, the Executive Director for CITT at Cal State University in Long Beach.

A compelling new video on the issue was issued recently, providing a broad overview of the issues.

Meanwhile, however, Pacific Rim seaports seem to remain as vital as ever.

“October, 2009 was the highest volume for the entire year, so the October 2010 gains over October 2009 was not as great as some of the monthly volume gains we saw earlier this year,” said Port of LA spokesmen.

Imports were slightly down October 2010 vs September 2010, signaling that the annual “peak shipping season”push to stock up for the end-of-year holidays has subsided. October 2010’s volumes are in line with the typical pattern of post-peak declines.

Exports are up for October 2010, spokesmen added, noting that it was “an encouraging sign.”

“October volumes are approximately 11 percent below August 2010 volumes; when the peak month was October in previous years, 2 months later in December volumes were about 10-20 percent below the peak.

“So, this peak-and-decline trend looks similar to our normal cycle, only shifted forward two months,” port spokemen added.

The Port of Los Angeles has posted its October 2010 container volumes. View the latest statistics, as well as container volumes dating back to 1995, at: http://www.portoflosangeles.org/maritime/stats.asp

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