Chinese ebb in the port of Long Beach
A tandem torpedo hit the Californian port of Long Beach at the beginning of the year. The total number of boxes handled in January and February declined 7.1% compared to the same period in 2018. Lingering effects from the United States’ trade war with China on ship calls and the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a 17.9% year-on-year drop in imports in February.
The port noted that although the United States and China signed a phase one trade agreement in January, about USD 370 billion in Chinese goods remain under increased tariffs.
The coronavirus has further disrupted the supply chain. The port reported that terminal operators and dockworkers moved 538,000 teu last month, down 9.8% compared to February 2019. Imports dropped 17.9% to 249,000 teu, while exports increased 19.3% to 126,000 teu. Empty containers sent overseas decreased 12.8% to 164,000 teu.
Mario Cordero, executive director of the port of Long Beach, said: “Once the virus is contained, we may see a surge of cargo, and our terminals, labour and supply chain will be ready to handle it.” (mw)