Port, supply chain partners prepare for busy Summer, early peak season

The Port of Los Angeles processed 967,900 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in May, the third best overall month in its 115-year history. Five months in to 2022, the Port has processed more than 4.5 million TEUs, equal to last year’s record-setting pace.

“Retailers replenished inventory throughout the spring and now we’ll see a transition to back-to-school goods, fall fashion and some early year-end holiday products,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “While American consumers have become more cost conscious, overall demand remains strong.

“Meanwhile, we’ve reached a new productivity milestone on our docks,” Seroka added. “On average, 12,000 TEUs were discharged and loaded back on to every container vessel in May. That eclipsed our own previous best-in-the-business record of 11,300 TEUs recorded last summer.”

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May’s 967,900 TEUs rank only behind May 2021 and October 2020 at the Port of Los Angeles.

May 2022 loaded imports reached 499,960 TEUs compared to the previous year, a decrease of 6.8% but 21% higher than the previous five-year May average.

Loaded exports came in at 125,656 TEUs, a 14.4% increase compared to the same period last year. May marked the highest level of exports processed at the Port of Los Angeles since November 2020.

Empty containers reached 342,285 TEUs, down 6.6% compared to last year.

May 2022 2021 Change % Change
Loaded Imports 499,960.15 535,714.20 (35,754.05) -6.67%
Loaded Exports 125,655.50 109,886.00 15,769.50 14.35%
Total Loaded 625,615.65 645,600.20 (19,984.55) -3.10%
Total Empty 342,284.50 366,447.65 (24,163.15) -6.59%
Total 967,900.15 1,012,047.85 (44,147.70) -4.36%
Calendar Year 2022 4,537,291.30 4,551,445.05 (14,153.75) -0.31%
Fiscal Year 2021/2022 9,787,025.60 10,002,952.50 (215,926.90) -2.16%

The busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles is North America’s leading trade gateway and has ranked as the number one container port in the United States for 22 consecutive years. In 2021, the Port facilitated $294 billion in trade and handled a total of 10.7 million container units, the busiest calendar year in the Port’s 115-year history. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.