According to CNBC, the container data for 2020 and 2021 from the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, the top two carriers that transported more empty containers than loaded U.S. exports out of the Port of Los Angles were OOCL, which is headquartered in Hong Kong, and its parent company, COSCO, which is headquartered in Shanghai.
Thus, OOCL recorded a 35.1% decrease in loaded exports and a 104.1% increase in empty containers. COSCO transported a rise of 4% in loaded containers versus a 104.6% increase in empties. Analysis of the Port of Long Beach data revealed OOCL topped the list with a 3.2% decrease in loaded exports versus a 31.61% increase in empty exports.
In March, the findings come on the heels of the Port of Los Angeles reporting another decline in exports. The export has seen a decrease in loaded exports during 37out of the last 39 months. U.S. exports out of the port have fallen to the lowest level since 2002. Likewise, U.S. exports from the nearby Port of Long Beach have fallen to their lowest since 2009.