US west coast imports increase 3pc with LA-Long Beach up 6pc in first half

US WEST COAST imports were up three per cent and exports increased nine per cent year on year in the first six months of the year, said the Pacific Maritime Association, the terminal operators group.

Los Angeles-Long Beach imports increased six per cent while Oakland imports were down two per cent, reported Newark`s Journal of Commerce, which added that container volume in Seattle-Tacoma only increased one per cent. In Portland, imports were up 17 per cent, but because of a small base number from last year, said the report.


Exports outpaced imports throughout, with exports up nine per cent against as three per cent increase in import traffic.


Exports also did better in Vancouver, up 13 per cent, and Prince Rupert - up an astonishing 79.4 per cent. But Vancouver suffered a six per cent drop overall container volume in the first half, while Prince Rupert`s box volume jumped 12.5 per cent as its import boxes fell 4.5 per cent.