Volume at top North American ports drops by 20%

Total container volume at the top 13 North American ports fell by 20 percent year-over-year in first quarter 2023 to 12.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to CBRE Research in its Port Watch Series.

Most U.S. ports had year-over-year decreases in container volume, led by Los Angeles (–32 percent) and Long Beach (–30 percent). Houston was the only top port with increased volume (3.4 percent).

The first quarter 2023 report spotlights Los Angeles, the nation’s No. 1 container port for the past 23 years and the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere. Los Angeles had the biggest decrease, down by 32 percent. Total West Coast container volume fell by 24 percent and East Coast volume was down by 18 percent. While rising interest rates, high inflation and less consumer spending contributed to the drop in container volume, seaport activity levels are normalizing.

To read the full report,