Long Beach up 35.9pc - best month in history docking first 18,000-TEUer

Time:2016-03-11 Browse:153 Author:RISINGSUN
THE Port of Long Beach handled more cargo in February than in any month in its 105-year history and extended cargo growth for an eighth consecutive month, port officials announced.

"We showed the world we can handle today`s mega ships by inaugurating the 18,000-TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin," said port CEO Jon Slangerup. 

The port moved 561,413 TEU last month, a 35.9 per cent year-on-year increase. February saw a 44.7 per cent increase in imports with 295,870 TEU, reported the Long Beach Post.

With the movement of 123,010 TEU out of the port, exports increased 11.1 per cent, and empty containers rose 45.5 per cent to 142,532 TEU.

The first two months of 2016 saw the movement of more than one million TEU through the Port of Long Beach.

Said Mr Slangerup: "The future of big ships is here and our customers are choosing Long Beach because we offer the fastest, most efficient way to get cargo from Asia to the rest of the United States."