Long Beach Sets August Imports Record

A record volume of imports came through the nation’s busiest port at Long Beach in August, officials said, two days after the neighboring Port of Los Angeles also reported record inbound cargo for the month. Officials from both ports attributed the numbers to a strong dollar fueling domestic consumer demand for Asian imports and to U.S. retailers beginning to stock inventory for the holiday shopping season. At Long Beach, import cargo rose by nearly 20,000 20-foot containers in August, or roughly 10% over a year ago, and exports grew by 4%. The Port of Los Angeles posted a 12% increase in imports and close to a 2% increase in exports.