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Year-on-year container traffic at the port of Los Angeles surged 16 percent in 2010, with a record number of exports leading the way.

Port exports rose by 10.3 percent in 2010 to 1,841,274 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) compared to 1,668,911 in 2009 and surpassed the previous container export record of 1,782,502 TEUs in 2008. Meanwhile, imports increased 12.8 percent in 2010 (3,973,933 TEUs) compared to 2009 (3,524,386 TEUs).

The rise in container traffic will also be positive news for bunker suppliers at the West Coast port, which is estimated to sell around 3.5-4.0 million tonnes of marine fuel per annum.

Commenting on the results, Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz said: "The 2010 volume gains far surpass our initial estimates, and we’ve been able to facilitate some export opportunities in the past year through our TradeConnect initiative and increased networking with local business stakeholders."

"We not only have the port resources to help increase export trade, we have a coalition of regional business and civic leaders focused on facilitating the growing dialogue on exports – identifying ways to help businesses here and elsewhere increase their export activity,” said Tracy Rafter, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Business Federation.

The port of Los Angeles handled a total of 7,831,902 TEUs in 2010 and remains the nation’s busiest trade gateway in terms of container volume. In December, the total number of TEUs imported and exported through the port was 612,651, an 8.82 percent increase over the 562,989 TEUs handled in December 2009. Loaded container exports were up 5.6 percent at 299,304 TEUs compared to 283,364 TEUs in December 2009.

"The port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves," the port of Los Angeles said in a statement.