Los Angeles port sets new U.S. standard for exports

The Port of Los Angeles set a new standard for exports in 2011, becoming the first harbor in the nation to ship more than 2 million containers carrying U.S. goods to customers overseas, according to year-end statistics released by port officials Tuesday.

The nation’s busiest seaport moved 176,531 export containers in December, enough to kick its 2011 total up to 2.11 million. That broke the port’s old record of 1.84 million export containers, set in 2010.

No other U.S. harbor has ever moved more export containers. The closest competitor is Long Beach, which moved 1.69 million in 2008. They are followed by New York-New Jersey, which moved 1.62 million export containers that same year.

The surge in exports through the nation’s busiest trade gateway helped propel Los Angeles above its 2010 cargo totals. In 2011, Los Angeles handled 7.94 million cargo containers, compared with 7.83 million in 2010. Together, Los Angeles and Long Beach moved about 14 million containers in 2011, down slightly from the 14.1 million recorded in 2010.

“We’re fortunate to have stronger year-over-year results in 2011,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, “but we are not resting on our laurels as the nation’s premier trade gateway. That’s why we are investing $1.5 billion in capital improvements over the next five years.”

Geraldine Knatz, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles, said the exports total was “an example of how our port is prepared to handle a shift in global trade patterns.”

The Port of Los Angeles has been encouraging U.S. businesses to grow their overseas customer base through its TradeConnect program. Its cargo numbers were also helped in 2011 by the move of California United Terminals from the Port of Long Beach to the Port of Los Angeles.

RELATED:

The Panama Canal challenge

Long Beach port sees small decline in 2011

California likely set a new exports record in 2011