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North American import of containerized goods from the Far East soared to 1.62 million TEUs in February, a 100% year-on-year
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Some containerships in San Pedro Bay are waiting for up to 14 days before berthing
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Port of Los Angeles registered last February its strongest February in its 114-year history, processing 799,315 TEUs
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Port of Long Beach had its busiest February on record this year due to an unseasonable surge in cargo, moving 771,735 TEUs in the month
North American import of containerized goods from the Far East soared to 1.62 million TEUs during February, a 100% increase from the low point of the same month last year, according to the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO).
The surge in the volumes of goods to consumers and businesses in North America during what is usually considered a slow month was fueled by US economic stimulus, allowing the container shipping industry to gain strength eight months in a row, said BIMCO in a new analysis.
In a normal year, February volumes are seasonally low due to the impact from the Chinese Lunar New Year when exports out of the Far East drop as factories close for the holiday.
“If you ask the ports of San Pedro bay on the US west coast, they will tell you that this massive surge in volumes is a double-edged sword. Record-breaking business activity overloads logistic chains in and around the ports, both ashore and at sea,” said Peter Sand, BIMCO’s chief shipping analyst.
“Additionally, if you ask the liner shipping companies, they will tell you that demand is spectacularly strong, but that it also creates multiple disruptions on their part, especially around the main import ports,” said Sand.
In San Pedro Bay, 25 container ships waited to berth in Los Angeles and Long Beach on April 12.
“Some containerships are waiting for up to 14 days before berthing. Due to congestion inside the port areas, the total days at berth can stretch to 10-12 days. A three-week turnaround time, from arrival at the anchor to departing from the terminal may the slowest on record too,” Sand said.
Historic highs for Los Angeles, Long Beach
Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles last month said February 2021 was the port’s strongest February in its 114-year history as it processed 799,315 TEUs, a 47% jump compared to February 2020.
February was also the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year increases for the port, the unparalleled import surge “driven by unprecedented demands by American consumers,” according to Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka.
February 2021 loaded imports reached 412,884 TEUs compared to the previous year. Empty containers, heavily in demand in Asia, surged 104% compared to February 2020 reaching 285,223 TEUs.
Similarly, the Port of Long Beach said it recorded its busiest February on record this year due to “an unseasonable surge in cargo.”
The port moved 771,735 TEUs in February, a 43.3% uptick from the same month last year and marking the largest year-over-year increase for a single month in the port’s 110-year history.
It was also the first time it handled more than 700,000 TEUs in the month of February, exceeding the previous record set in February 2018 by 109,945 TEUs.
Imports jumped 50.3% to 373,756 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port climbed 69.6% to 278,563 TEUs.
Although activity typically slows in February as east Asian factories close for up to two weeks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, China largely worked through the holiday to fill back orders and meet the increasing demands of consumers ordering items online, said the Port of Long Beach.
Photo courtesy of Port of Los Angeles
