LA up 10.2pc, Long Beach down 7.5pc, net gain of 2.5pc results

LONG ANGELES import volume in March was up 10.2 per cent while neighbouring Long Beach suffered a 7.5 per cent drop, resulting in a slight overall net gain for the two San Pedro Bay ports of 2.5 per cent.

Although imports are forecast to build up momentum in 2011 after a traditional slowdown over Chinese New Year holidays, US export boom is unlikely to falter with a weak dollar making US goods attractive, and in particular demand for agriculture products from countries hit by poor harvests.