San Pedro Bay Ports Container Dwell Under Three Days for Month of May, Signaling Smooth Cargo Movement

May 2023

Contact: Michele Grubbs, Vice President

mgrubbs@pmsaship.com

Through the month of May, cargo traveling through the San Pedro Bay port complex and destined for local delivery via truck spent an average of 2.9 days at port terminals. The May figures were a slight improvement from the 3.1 days observed through the month of April. An approximate 3-day average is within the normal range and is an indicator that the supply chain is operating smoothly.

Dwell time for rail-destined cargo, however, has trended slightly upward in recent months, with cargo spending an average of 5.2 days at terminals in May.

An important factor contributing to the average dwell time for local and rail-bound containers is the proportion of containers that dwell for more than 5 days. In May, 5% of local containers dwelled for more than five days; 36% of rail-bound containers similarly dwelled for more than 5 days.

“As we enter the peak shipping season, it is important that our supply chain is performing optimally,” stated Michele Grubbs, Vice President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). “The efficient movement of cargo from the terminals plays a critical role in ensuring the timely delivery of goods to the public while also minimizing congestion. As always, terminal operators continue to take all measures to ensure the efficient movement of containers.”