The
Port of Long Beach in the US reported volume declines by 16.6% year on year in September, as the effects of
Hanjin Shipping’s bankruptcy reverberated in West Coast ports.
Further, the port said longshore workers ferried almost 550,000 20-foot equivalent units in the past month. The volume includes 280,000 TEUs in imports, which decreased by 15% from September last year, the month when the port concluded its best quarter to date.
Similarly, exports dropped by 4% to 121,000 TEUs, while empties took a 27% dive to 143, 000 TEUs.
The tepid performance was affected both by a reduction in the calls of Hanjin ships and the absence of Hanjin containers on ships operated by fellow CKYHE Alliance members, according to port officials.
Hanjin Shipping containers account for 12% of the port’s total volume as measured in terms of containers.
Total cargo volumes decreased by almost 5% year to date in Long Beach.