Port of L.A. Imports Fall in November

The number of import containers at the Port of Los Angeles fell below 200,000 in November for the first time in eight months, marking the shipping industry’s traditional end-of-the-year import slowdown. Most imported goods earmarked for the holiday shopping season arrived by the end of October, which set the port’s single-month record for inbound cargo at 251,000 20-foot-long shipping containers. November’s tally was a relatively quiet 199,400, port officials said. That figure, however, was still 14% higher than November 1999’s import total. Exports at the port, which is the largest in the U.S., were 13% higher than a year ago with about 83,000 containers. Neighboring Port of Long Beach is expected to report its November figures next week.