by Calculated Risk September 23, 2024 2:05 PM
Container traffic gives information about the volume of goods being imported and exported. It usually Trade Reporting Tips The LA area ports handle approximately 40% of the nation’s container traffic.
The graph below shows the inbound and outbound traffic at the following ports: Los Angeles and Long Beach TEU (Twenty-foot equivalent unit or 20-foot long cargo container).
To remove the strong seasonal component of inbound traffic, the first graph shows 12-month averages.
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
Looking at a rolling 12-month period, inbound traffic in August increased 2.2% compared to the rolling 12-month period ending in July. Outbound traffic increased 0.3% compared to the rolling 12-month period ending in the previous month.
Imports typically peak between July and October as retailers import goods for the Christmas holidays, then decline sharply around the Lunar New Year period before bottoming out in the winter.
Imports in August increased 27% compared to the same month last year, while exports increased 4% compared to the same month last year.
Overall, port traffic appears to be returning to pre-pandemic patterns, but imports had a very strong August as retailers prepared for holiday shopping. Potential to avoid higher tariffs.
