Extended peak season drives high dwell times at San Pedro Bay Ports

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association said record volumes in September pushed up the time cargo remained idle, both for rail and truck transport.

The ocean shipping peak season continues to defy forecasts of an earlier end, combining with Panama Canal access restrictions, higher diesel costs and the looming expiration of a U.S. and China trade war truce to drive record-high volumes at the San Pedro Bay ports.

“So, this confluence of events means that volume will probably stay a little bit more elevated than normal, and a couple of deadlines that may come to pass are in the minds of supply chain experts around the world,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing on Oct. 9.

The Port of Los Angeles handled 1.04 million TEUs in September, the busiest month in its 118-year history, according to Seroka. Similarly, the Port of Long Beach processed 997,177 TEUs last month, the port’s busiest month in its 115-year history, per a press release.

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