Container stats for West Coast ports continue to get better with every port showing double digit increases in May 2010 over May 2009, except one - the Port of Tacoma, where total container stats for May were down 13.0 percent.

Total container stats were up 25.1 percent at the Port of Long Beach in May, were up 19.9 percent at the Port of Los Angeles, up 19.3 percent at the Port of Oakland, and up a whopping 57.4 percent at the Port of Seattle. May was the best month this year for all the West Coast ports except Tacoma. Even in Tacoma - despite the lagging figures compared to 2009 -May was the best month this year except for March.

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach as a gateway moved 1,214,136 TEUs during the month, up 22.1 percent over May 2009. Imports were up 18.3 percent; exports were up 9.4 percent.

The Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma as a gateway moved 323,702 TEUs during May, up 19.8 percent from May 2009. At the Pacific Northwest Gateway, imports were up 51.8 percent, exports were down 3.9 percent. Despite the disparity between how the two ports are doing, taken as a gateway, Tacoma and Seattle are recording similar figures to the three other West Coast ports - an indication that much of Tacoma's losses are reflected in Seattle's gains.

The Port of Oakland recorded a 13.3 percent increase in imports and a 4.8 percent increase in exports.

Detailed West Coast Container Stats for May

-- The Cunningham Report