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Port of Los Angeles expected to hit 10.8m teu annual volume

The Port of Los Angeles became the first port in the US on 10 June to reach 10m teu unloading the Malta-flagged 13,344-teu-box ship CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

June 15, 2021

1 Min Read
210610 10 Million TEUs DH 0018
Photo: Port of Los Angeles

When the port closes its fiscal year 2020-2021 on 30 June, it is expected to have handled more than 10.8m teu, said port officials.

CMA CGM Group is the Port of Los Angeles largest shipping line customer.  Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM and APL North America, noted that "this shows that as the pandemic subsides in the US, the US economy is coming back to life." 

The Port of Los Angeles has ranked as the number one container port in the United States each year since 2000. The milestone of 10m teu sets Los Angeles in the top 15 busiest container ports in the world, far from those in China. Rotterdam reported 14.5 m teu in 2020.

The 2021 fiscal year forecast of 10.8m teu means a 17% increase over the 9.2m teu of 2020 and 14% growth over the port’s highest container volume in history of 9.5m teu in 2018.

Port officials say that the increase in volume is being driven by a pandemic-induced consumer buying surge that began last summer, along with the restocking of retailer shelves and e-commerce warehouses across the country. However, congestion in Asian ports may disrupt volumes in the coming months.  

“With our sustained focus on supply chain digitalisation, infrastructure investments, and strong business relationships, we have the opportunity to build on this historic milestone,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka.

Related:Port of Los Angeles loaded container import- export imbalance hits 4:1

 

 

 

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Port of Los Angeles

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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