Port of L.A. sees high-record of cargo movement in September

Cargo movement at the Port of Los Angeles reached a record in September with 954,706 twenty-foot equivalent units handled by workers, an increase of 27% compared to 2023, and marked the busiest quarter with a total of about 2.8 million containers moved in last three months, officials announced Friday.

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According to the latest figures, loaded imports landed at 497,803 TEUs, an increase of 26%, and loaded exports stood at 114.702 TEUs, which declined by 5%, compared to the same time last year. Workers processed 342,201 empty containers in September, a 45% increase over September 2023.

Data shows that in the first nine months of 2024, the port moved 7,586,395 TEUs, an increase of 18% over 2023.

"In the third quarter, we averaged a record half-million imports each month. All these imports led to an efficient, busy month on our docks," Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said during his online monthly briefing.

He noted the port increased shipping lines and added eight extra loaders to assist bringing in the cargo. At the same time rail dwells -- the amount of time a train waits to be loaded -- increased, and the port is exploring solutions to reduce that wait time.

Seroka acknowledged in the last two months there has been a slight decrease in exports, which is something they are "watching closely."

"October is shaping up to be another strong month here in Los Angeles," Seroka said. "... We expect to see container volume in the mid- 800,000 TEU range, well above levels of the last two years."

As the year winds down, the executive director will be monitoring three key factors -- the impacts of an early Lunar New Year in 2025, the presidential election and the strength of the economy.

Matt Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, joined Seroka to discuss the impacts of the East and Gulf coasts labor disruption on retailers, as well as supply chain trends for the fourth quarter. He also

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