CONTAINERS CLIMB AT PORT OF LONG BEACH
The Port of Long Beach said a surge in imports raised the port's June container volume 15.5 percent to 418,000 TEUs.
Imported containers rose 16.3 percent to 236,000 TEUs. Leading imports include goods made in Asia such as clothing, shoes, toys and consumer electronics.
Container exports fell 3.3 percent, the first decline in five months, to 76,000 TEUs. Leading exports include factory equipment, recycled paper, and raw materials such as plastics and chemicals.
The number of empty containers handled at the port in June was 107,000 TEUs, up 31.7 percent, as boxes were repositioned to Asia to be refilled for the peak season cargoes.
Total volume topped 400,000 TEUs for the third month in a row, said Art Wong, a Long Beach port spokesman.