Port Traffic Metrics: Los Angeles, Oakland, Virginia
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Los Angeles Eclipses 2 Million TEUs for Record 1st Quarter
Container throughput January through March at the Port of Los Angeles exceeded 2.0 million TEUs, an 11.3 percent increase from last year and the port’s busiest first quarter ever.
"Our first quarter growth is significant and encouraging," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. "The feedback we are receiving from cargo owners and exporters is that the port is delivering on speed, efficiency, cost and service. Our terminal operators and supply chain partners are working with us to continuously improve and optimize operations."
Two ultra large container vessels, the 18,000-TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin and the 13,092-TEU Maersk Edmonton, are scheduled to return concurrently Los Angeles this week as a further demonstration of the port’s ability to handle megaships and large container volumes per ship call.
The March data show throughput totaling 612,863 TEUs, a drop of 22.6 percent from compared to March 2015, when volumes surged after congestion issues were resolved. In detail, the March 2016 numbers show declines of 33.3 percent for inbound loads and 22.8 percent for empty containers and a 9.5 percent increase in outbound loads.
View current and past container counts for the Port of Los Angeles.
Signs of export rally at Port of Oakland: volume up 19.9 percent
The Port of Oakland reports a nearly 20 percent increase in container exports for first quarter 2016. March exports, measured in TEUs, rose for a third successive month, up 9.9 percent compared to March 2015.
Port officials attributed the gains to a recent decline in the strength of the dollar, making U.S. goods more affordable overseas. Export volume declined for most of 2015.
"It's too soon to declare this a trend, but we're encouraged by recent signs," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "Exports are a critical component of our business."
Exports account for more than half of Oakland’s total 2016 cargo volume, making it less dependent on imports than most other West Coast ports. Oakland is the leading gateway for Central Valley growers exporting to China, Japan and other Asian destinations.
The port reports total container volume - imports, exports and empty containers – fell 14.5 percent in March, the result of a drop in imports. The port linked the decrease to an unfavorable comparison with extraordinary March 2015 volumes spurred by ending of the protracted waterfront contract dispute. This March’s volume was also constrained by a seasonal post-Lunar New Year slowdown in imports from Asia.
Despite the March slow down, the first quarter’s 558,241 TEUs exceeded the January-March 2015 total by 18.9 percent. See details here.
Virginia Port Sets All-Time Monthly Rail Volume Mark in March; VIP, RMT Containers Surge
The Port of Virginia in March processed 46,600 rail containers, a monthly record that accounted for 39 percent of the port’s total container volume.
"Our message about the strength of our rail connections to critical Midwest markets is resonating with the market," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "Rail volume at the port is up 15 percent and 10 percent for the calendar and fiscal years, respectively."
Strong performances were also reported for the port authority’s Virginia Inland Port and Richmond Marine Terminal operations, with container volume increases from March 2015 of 45 percent and 58 percent, respectively.
"Since Richmond Marine Terminal has been under our management, this is the first month that volumes there have exceeded 2,000 units," Mr. Reinhart said. "Richmond and the inland port are showing their capabilities and potential and they will be vital as we go forward with our plans to significantly increase capacity at our primary, deep-water terminals over the next three to four years."
As expected, container throughput measured in TEUs declined in March at the port’s Hampton Roads marine facilities, falling 7 percent from March 2015 and resulting in a 13 percent reduction in gate moves.
"Last March’s strong volume was driven by inclement weather at the end of February [2015] that pushed vessel calls into March and by uncertainty on the West Coast that fueled temporary cargo growth on the East Coast," Mr. Reinhart said. "However, March 2016 TEU and container volumes were the second highest March in the history of the port [after March 2015], so our volumes are still solid and our fiscal year results are 3.6 percent above the same period last year. Further, the service times for the motor carriers calling our terminals improved as well.
The port is "forecasting modest growth for the balance of the year, so our focus will be on service, cost-control and implementing critical infrastructure improvements."
View Virginia cargo traffic details.
Container throughput January through March at the Port of Los Angeles exceeded 2.0 million TEUs, an 11.3 percent increase from last year and the port’s busiest first quarter ever.
"Our first quarter growth is significant and encouraging," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. "The feedback we are receiving from cargo owners and exporters is that the port is delivering on speed, efficiency, cost and service. Our terminal operators and supply chain partners are working with us to continuously improve and optimize operations."
Two ultra large container vessels, the 18,000-TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin and the 13,092-TEU Maersk Edmonton, are scheduled to return concurrently Los Angeles this week as a further demonstration of the port’s ability to handle megaships and large container volumes per ship call.
The March data show throughput totaling 612,863 TEUs, a drop of 22.6 percent from compared to March 2015, when volumes surged after congestion issues were resolved. In detail, the March 2016 numbers show declines of 33.3 percent for inbound loads and 22.8 percent for empty containers and a 9.5 percent increase in outbound loads.
View current and past container counts for the Port of Los Angeles.
Signs of export rally at Port of Oakland: volume up 19.9 percent
The Port of Oakland reports a nearly 20 percent increase in container exports for first quarter 2016. March exports, measured in TEUs, rose for a third successive month, up 9.9 percent compared to March 2015.
Port officials attributed the gains to a recent decline in the strength of the dollar, making U.S. goods more affordable overseas. Export volume declined for most of 2015.
"It's too soon to declare this a trend, but we're encouraged by recent signs," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "Exports are a critical component of our business."
Exports account for more than half of Oakland’s total 2016 cargo volume, making it less dependent on imports than most other West Coast ports. Oakland is the leading gateway for Central Valley growers exporting to China, Japan and other Asian destinations.
The port reports total container volume - imports, exports and empty containers – fell 14.5 percent in March, the result of a drop in imports. The port linked the decrease to an unfavorable comparison with extraordinary March 2015 volumes spurred by ending of the protracted waterfront contract dispute. This March’s volume was also constrained by a seasonal post-Lunar New Year slowdown in imports from Asia.
Despite the March slow down, the first quarter’s 558,241 TEUs exceeded the January-March 2015 total by 18.9 percent. See details here.
Virginia Port Sets All-Time Monthly Rail Volume Mark in March; VIP, RMT Containers Surge
The Port of Virginia in March processed 46,600 rail containers, a monthly record that accounted for 39 percent of the port’s total container volume.
"Our message about the strength of our rail connections to critical Midwest markets is resonating with the market," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "Rail volume at the port is up 15 percent and 10 percent for the calendar and fiscal years, respectively."
Strong performances were also reported for the port authority’s Virginia Inland Port and Richmond Marine Terminal operations, with container volume increases from March 2015 of 45 percent and 58 percent, respectively.
"Since Richmond Marine Terminal has been under our management, this is the first month that volumes there have exceeded 2,000 units," Mr. Reinhart said. "Richmond and the inland port are showing their capabilities and potential and they will be vital as we go forward with our plans to significantly increase capacity at our primary, deep-water terminals over the next three to four years."
As expected, container throughput measured in TEUs declined in March at the port’s Hampton Roads marine facilities, falling 7 percent from March 2015 and resulting in a 13 percent reduction in gate moves.
"Last March’s strong volume was driven by inclement weather at the end of February [2015] that pushed vessel calls into March and by uncertainty on the West Coast that fueled temporary cargo growth on the East Coast," Mr. Reinhart said. "However, March 2016 TEU and container volumes were the second highest March in the history of the port [after March 2015], so our volumes are still solid and our fiscal year results are 3.6 percent above the same period last year. Further, the service times for the motor carriers calling our terminals improved as well.
The port is "forecasting modest growth for the balance of the year, so our focus will be on service, cost-control and implementing critical infrastructure improvements."
View Virginia cargo traffic details.
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