Container volumes handled at West Coast ports in October declined 6 percent compared to October 2010, largely because of a 9 percent drop in imports, according to the Pacific Maritime Association.

Containerized exports increased 1 percent year over year. Loaded containers in the first 10 months of the year were up 2 percent year over year, according to compiled statistics from PMA's Web site.

Since West Coast ports handle about half of all U.S. containers, and about two-thirds of the U.S. trade with Asia, the numbers reflect the overall U.S. liner trade trend of declining imports and increasing exports.

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