The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have increased terminal operating hours and improved their efficiency in loading trains. Photo by the Port of Long Beach.
There are increasing indications that Southern California is holding on to its position as the leading gateway for Asian trade, despite fears that the region was losing its edge.
The most recent case in point: last month’s announcement by Oakland’s Matson Navigation Co. that it is adding a “second string” of five additional ships providing service from China to the Port of Long Beach.
A global transportation analyst said that many importers – reacting to what they perceived as insurmountable problems causing congestion and delays – began turning away from Southern California amid the boom in international trade in favor of ports such as Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, N.C.; and Savannah, Ga.
The Southern California ports responded with a series of aggressive changes that seem to have eased the problem. Among other things, they increased terminal operating hours through the joint Pier Pass program and improved their efficiency in loading trains. The worldwide recession, of course, eased trade volumes – and problems – sharply.
“Congestion is no longer a problem, and if you’re entering the Asia-to-U.S. container shipping business for the first time, you’re most logical market is going to be Long Beach-Los Angeles. It’s still the biggest gateway and the place where you’ll find the most customers,” he said.