The Port of Los Angeles announced Tuesday that for the second consecutive year, the port experienced record-breaking exports as outbound container volumes surged 14.5 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Imports also increased 2.3 percent compared to the previous year. Total annual volumes, including empty containers, rose 1.4 percent.
"We're fortunate to have stronger year-over-year results in 2011 but we are not resting on our laurels as the nation's premier trade gateway," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "That's why we are investing $1.5 billion in capital improvements over the next five years. We're going to create more than 20,000 construction jobs and keep infrastructure at the Port of Los Angeles unparalleled as we face a new competitive landscape."
The Port handled a total of 7,940,511 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (20-foot containers or TEUs) in 2011 compared to 7,831,902 TEUs in 2010. Port exports rose 14.5 percent to 2,109,394 in 2011 compared to 1,841,273 in 2010. Total year-over-year imports increased 2.3 percent to 4,066,763 in 2011 versus 3,973,933 the prior year.
The Port ended 2011 on a strong note, with December volumes showing gains in all categories. Exports increased 9.2 percent (176,530 TEUs) compared to the previous December (161,625,000 TEUs). Imports jumped 6.4 percent (318,355 TEUs) compared to December 2010 (299,304 TEUs). Total December volumes, including empties, increased 6 percent to 649,468 TEUs compared to December 2010's 612,651 TEUs.