Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach increased import of full containers by 1.1% in July.

The report for July from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) notes that the Port of Long Beach reported its "busiest July on record despite cooling consumer spending." However, it notes that the 785,843 TEUs moved (full plus empty) in July was also the lowest number recorded by the port in any month this calendar year. Imported full containers (376,175 TEUs) were down 1.8% from a year earlier. Full containers exported (109,411 TEUs) were also down 0.5% from July 2021. The last month in which exported full containers were less than July's total was April 2020. Long Beach moved 5,793,621 TEUs, up 4.6% from the first seven months of last year.

The situation was healthier at Southern California's other gateway. Full containers imported in July (485,452 TEUs) at the Port of Los Angeles equaled a 3.4% year-over-year increase. Full containers exported (103,899 TEUs) grew 13.7% over July 2021. However, the port saw its total container throughput increase by only 0.5% to 6,349,326 TEUs.

Combined, both California ports imported 1.1% more full containers (861,627 TEUs) in July than a year earlier, while full containers exported (213,310 TEUs) were up 5.9%, over July 2021. Adding full and empty, neighboring ports have moved 12,141,947 TEUs so far this year, an increase of 2.4% over 2021.

The numbers at the Port of Oakland were simply and understandably terrible. A nearly week-long protest by truckers at the port put a big dent in July TEU mobilization. Full containers imported (69,463 TEUs) in July were down 26.7% from 2021, while full containers exported (47,166 TEUs) were down 30.8% from a year earlier. In July, the Port of San Francisco Bay handled the lowest number of full and empty containers since February 2015. Total container throughput (1,391,153 TEUs) was down 8.1% compared to 2021. In addition, port authorities estimate that it could be a month before the port recovers from the disruption caused by the truckers' protest.

At the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) ports of Tacoma and Seattle, imported full containers (88,502 TEUs) plunged 30.4% in July from a year ago. Exported full containers (40,697 TEUs) fell 16.8% from July 2021. Year-to-date container throughput at the two ports (2,067,304 TEUs) was down 5.6% from a year earlier. In a press release, NWSA officials attributed the volume declines to "reduced vessel calls as a result of delays at other ports and ongoing service suspensions."

In British Columbia, the figures were more cheerful. The Port of Vancouver recorded a 12.5% increase in imported full containers (155,914 TEUs) over July 2021. However, imported full containers decreased 3.1% year to date. Exported full containers (55,573 TEUs) fell by 7.8% year-on-year. Year-to-date, exported full containers decreased by 28.3% over 2021. Total container throughput through Canada's largest port (2,109,078 TEUs) was down 4.6% from the first seven months of 2021.

USEC

Imported full containers (149,829 TEUs) at the Port of Virginia were up 4.9% year-on-year, while exported full containers (85,170 TEUs) were up 5.1%. Through July, total container throughput through the port totaled 2,171,714 TEUs, 10.0% above last year's volume.

The Port of Savannah reported a 10.5% year-over-year increase in full containers imported in July to 251,761 TEUs. Year-to-date, full containers imported at the Georgia state port (1,671,276 TEUs) are up 5.0% over 2021. Full containers exported (122,928 TEUs) were up 3.2% year-over-year, but more importantly, Savannah became the top container export terminal in the U.S. Total container throughput through the port year-to-date totaled 3,421,892, up 7.3% over this point last year.

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