Exports Drop Again at Port of Long Beach

Imports through the Port of Long Beach were unchanged in June from the same month a year ago, while export traffic fell as slowing Asian economies bought fewer raw materials.

Led by Asian-made clothing, toys and shoes, shipments arriving at the Port of Long Beach, the No. 2 U.S. seaport, totaled 202,988 20-foot containers last month, compared with 203,004 in June 2000. Exports, mainly raw and semi-finished goods such as plastics, chemicals, paper and metal, fell 5.9% to 78,395 containers from 83,305 in June of last year.

The decline in exports was the ninth in the last 10 months. The drop brought total traffic through the port down 1.7% compared with the same month last year, after a 9.6% decline the previous month. That is the first back-to-back decrease since January-February 1993.