19% Increase on Year of TEUs at Port of Los Angeles

In March, the Port of Los Angeles experienced a significant increase in activity, processing 743,417 container units, a 19% rise from the same month last year.

This growth marks the eighth straight month of year-over-year gains for the busiest port in the United States.

By the end of the first quarter on March 31, dockworkers in Los Angeles had moved 2,380,503 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) through the port's terminals, nearly 30% more than in 2023. This quarter is one of the strongest starts in the Port's history, only surpassed by the import boom during the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022.

"Moving into April and the second quarter, I expect robust cargo flow to continue here. A strong job market and continued consumer spending, along with our ability to handle additional volume, will help drive cargo to Los Angeles in the coming months," said Gene Seroka, executive director of Port of Los Angeles.

At a media briefing, Seroka was joined by Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for Cyber and Emerging Tech, who also serves as deputy assistant to President Biden. Neuberger discussed President Biden's recent executive order, which aims to bolster cybersecurity measures at U.S. ports.

In March 2024, the port saw a 19% increase in loaded imports, totaling 379,542 TEUs. Loaded exports reached 144,718 TEUs, up 47% from the previous year, marking the strongest export figures since January 2020 and continuing a 10-month trend of year-over-year export growth.

Additionally, the port managed 219,158 empty containers, a 7% increase from 2023 figures.