THE Port of Los Angeles container volume increased 8.4 per cent year on year to 9.2 million TEU in its fiscal year that ended June 30, a record throughput for any port in the western hemisphere.

The port also reported that June volumes increased 8.1 per cent over the same period in 2016, marking the second-busiest June in its 110-year history.

Meanwhile the adjacent Port of Long Beach posted a 9.2 per cent year-on-year increase in container throughput in June to 658,000 TEU, making it the second best June in history.

Port of Los Angeles officials say it is on track to end 2017 exceeding last year's record of 8.8 million TEU. 

Through June, total 2017 cargo volumes are 4.48 million TEU, an 8.4 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2016.

Laden imports in June were up 4.7 per cent to 372,272 TEU. Laden exports rose 3.5 per cent to 145,527 TEU. Combined with an 18.6 per cent increase in empties, total volume came to 731,032 TEU in June, the highly monthly throughput this year, second only to June 2014 of 736,439 TEU.

Long Beach imports grew seven per cent to 335,328 TEU, while exports fell 7.7 per cent to 118,304 TEU with empties up 26.8 per cent to 205,095 TEU.

"These are good results as we move into the busiest trade months of the year," said Long Beach Harbour Commission president Lori Ann Guzman. "The US dollar remains strong and retailers are stocking back-to-school merchandise and other goods American consumers are purchasing."

Second quarter throughput rose 8.3 per cent year on year to 1.9 million TEU. "It's good to see evidence of confidence in our port," said the new port executive director Mario Cordero.

Through the first half of 2017, throughput grew 5.1 per cent compared to the same 2016 period with total volume coming to 3.5 million TEU.

But for the fiscal year, starting October 1, the volume was down 0.1 per cent to 5.11 million TEU during the nine-month period.