The port said terminal operators and dockworkers in July moved 753,081 twenty-foot equivalent units, topping a record set in June 2018 of 752,188 TEUs. 

Total volume was up an impressive 21.1% in July compared to the same month in 2019. 

"Supply chain workers at the Port of Long Beach expertly handled a welcome surge in cargo that was brought on due to pent-up demand by consumers," Cordero said in a statement. "It was a good month."

Imports climbed 20.3% year-over-year to 376,807 TEUs, while exports grew 24.1% to 138,602 TEUs. Empty containers headed back to Asia increased 20.8% to 237,672 TEUs.

The July gains also were an improvement from June, which was down 11.1% year-over-year with 602,180 TEUs moved.

The port said July cargo volumes were bolstered by a surge in online spending as consumers continued to shop from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The port also saw a short-term increase in extra vessel visits to compensate for voyages that were canceled earlier this year.

The San Pedro Bay complex — the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles combined — had 104 canceled sailings in the first half of the year. That's more than double the 41 canceled calls in the first six months of 2019. Thirty-seven of those blanked sailings this year were destined for the Port of Long Beach. 

The Port of Long Beach's volumes still are lagging behind 2019 totals. The port moved a total of 4,186,115 TEUs during the first seven months of 2020, down 2.8% from the same period last year.

Port of Long Beach posts 11.1% container decline

Port of Long Beach volume down 17.3% in April

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Click for more American Shipper/FreightWaves stories by Senior Editor Kim Link-Wills.