2013 proved to be the Port of Long Beach (POLB)’s third busiest year in its history in terms of cargo volume, behind record-setting years 2006 and 2007.
According to POLB, imports increased 12.8% over 2012 to 3,455,323 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs); exports increased 10.7% to 1,704,932 TEUs; and empties were up 8.8% to 1,570,318 TEUs for a cargo volume total of 6,730,573 TEUs, or an 11.3% increase over 2012. 2006 and 2007, saw 7,290,365 and 7,312,465 TEUs respectively.
The rise in cargo volume was attributed to the increased presence of massive shipping liners CMA CGM and Mediterranean Shipping Company in Long Beach.