Port Performance: LA/Long Beach, Norfolk

The San Pedro Harbor ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles together handled container volumes totaling just over 1.3 million TEUs in August, about the same as the preceding month and down 0.7 percent from a year ago.  In detail, the August data show no change for inbound loads, a 5.6 percent drop for outbound loads and a 2.2 percent increase in empty container traffic from prior year levels.  That brought volume for the year at America’s largest container handling complex to a seven-year high of nearly 10.0 million TEUs and an increase from January-August 2013 of 4.6 percent. Click here for details.

Virginia: August TEUs Hit Monthly High, Operating income up 168% 

August was a record-setter for The Port of Virginia, putting the port on pace for an historic year. 

 

Container volume rose 8.1 percent from a year ago to monthly high of 214,355 TEUs, eclipsing the old record set in July by 6,584 TEUs. That brought year-to-date volume to 1,558,781 TEUs, up 6.9 percent from the January-August 2013 total of 1,457,742 TEUs. 

The port’s operating income in August was $2.2 million, an increase of 168 percent from August 2013. During the first two months of the fiscal year that began July 1, the port’s combined operating income totaled $4.20 million, a 91.3 percent jump from July-August 2014. 

"We are two months into fiscal 2015 and have posted strong volumes and modest profitability, but this is only one part of the goal," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "By no means are we declaring ‘victory;’ we have to become consistent in our delivery of service across the board and we are not yet there. We are moving in the right direction, and we are working to achieve the operational rhythm that translates into the high-level delivery of service that we’re seeking and that our stakeholders expect." 

The port has earned an operating profit in five of the last six months. It attributes August’s financial performance to the efficiencies realized from multiple initiatives implemented since February at the terminals to improve delivery of service and cargo flow while controlling costs. Additionally, peak-season cargo is driving the month-over-month growth in cargo volumes. 

"We’re continuing to implement constructive changes to better serve our customers and stakeholders," Mr. Reinhart said. "PMT [Portsmouth Marine Terminal] came on line September 16, and we will work our first vessel there in early October; we are closing-in on implementation of our automated gate and appointment system at Norfolk International Terminals and we just received a matching grant from the federal government to expand the North Gate at that terminal. Going forward, these things will add up to improved throughput, greater efficiency and consistency." 

The port’s August data also show volume increases for containers transported in and out of the port by truck ( 12.9 percent), rail ( 1.7 percent) and barge ( 16.1 percent) and at the Virginia Inland Port ( 5.2 percent). In August, the port worked 169 container, break bulk and ro/ro vessels at its public marine terminals.