Year-over-year container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles rose 16 percent in 2010, with a record number of exports leading the way. Port exports rose 10.3 percent in 2010 to 1,841,274 TEU's compared to 1,688,911 in 2009 and surpassed the previous container export record of 1,782,502 TEU's in 2008. Imports increased as well, rising 12.8 percent in 2010 to 3,973,933 TEU's compared to 3,524,386 TEU's in 2009.
Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz commented that the "2010 volume gains far surpass our initial estimates, and we've been able to facilitate some export opportunities in the past year through our TradeConnecct initiative and increased networking with local business stakeholders. We want to continue that momentum and work with local business entities to advance the President's National Export Initiative agenda."
The Port of Los Angeles handled a total of 7,831,902 TEU's in 2010 and remains the nation's busiest trade gateway in terms of container volume. In December, the total number of TEU's imported and exported through the Port of Los Angeles was 612,651-an 8.82 percent increase over the 562,989 TEU's handled in December 2009.