Tariff uncertainty drives record July volumes at LA, Long Beach ports

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles posted record-breaking volumes last month, an indication of the impact of President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

The Port of Los Angeles handled 1,019,837 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in July, 8.5% more than in July 2024 and the busiest month in its 117-year history. Retailers and manufacturers brought in goods at an elevated pace due to concerns of higher tariffs later this year, LA port officials said in a press release.

“Shippers have been frontloading their cargo for months to get ahead of tariffs and recent activity at America’s top port really tells that story,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Port terminals in July were jam-packed with ships loaded with cargo.”

The port's loaded imports last month clocked in at 543,728 TEUs, up 8% and the most imports ever in a given month. Loaded exports reached 121,507 TEUs, up 6%. The port also processed 354,602 empty containers, up 10%.

Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach logged its most active July on record and the third-busiest month in its 114-year history. Long Beach dockworkers and terminal operators processed 944,232 TEUs in July, up 7% from the previous record set in July 2024.

Imports rose 7.6% to 468,081 TEUs and exports declined 12.9% to 91,328 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port increased 12.3% to 384,824 TEUs.

“Retailers are now seeing the arrival of goods that were purchased for lower costs during the temporary pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs earlier this year,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero in a press release.

Due to uncertainty caused shifting trade policies, the port's digital tracking tool forecasts that cargo will be down about 10% in the second half, resulting in flat volume for the entire year, Cordero said.