By Edward Krudy

NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) – The Port of Long Beach, the second largest port within the United States, will see 5 p.c development in cargo quantity this 12 months as a powerful U.S. greenback spurs shopper demand, the west coast port’s chief government stated on Thursday.

The port, which handles 20 p.c of U.S. cargo, primarily from east Asia, simply posted its strongest February on document, with the stronger greenback serving to to drive imports by 45 p.c in comparison with a 12 months in the past.

Chief Executive Jon Slangerup, who has a front-row seat on international financial exercise, stated American shopper demand would maintain international development, offsetting a slowdown in China and an economically weak Europe.

“The only real game in town right now is American consumers, that’s the global game,” stated Slangerup, including that decrease costs and robust demand will maintain cargo development this 12 months.

Slowing imports from China are being compensated for by double-digit development in southeast Asian nations similar to Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, that are the principle drivers behind the port’s development numbers, stated Slangerup.

In 2015 the port moved 7.2 million container models, often known as TEUs, by means of the harbor, a rise of 5.4 p.c over the earlier 12 months. February marked the eighth consecutive month of cargo development, port officers stated. (Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by David Gregorio)

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