Long Beach : Port Tonnage Sets Record

With imports accounting for 71% of the tonnage, cargo handled at the Port of Long Beach increased 10% in 1986, setting a new record for a West Coast port, harbor officials have announced.

About 59 million metric revenue tons of cargo moved through the port last year compared to 53.7 million in 1985, as the volume of containerized cargo jumped by 19%, they said. About 41.9 million tons were imports--mostly from Japan, Korea and Taiwan--and only 17.2 million were exports. The import percentage of total cargo has increased during the last five years from 56% to 71%, officials said.

Bulk petroleum was the most-shipped commodity, with import tonnage of 18.3 million and exports of 7.1 million. The other leading imports were electrical machinery and parts, 3.2 million, and plastics manufacturing, 2.4 million. Other top exports were petroleum coke, 3.9 million, and waste paper, about .5 million.