Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports Report Record July Volumes

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach both recorded their second-busiest July in history, processing 960,464 and 928,508 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) respectively. While these figures are 6% lower than the record-breaking July 2025, overall cargo volumes for the first seven months of 2026 remain higher than the previous year, with the Port of Los Angeles handling 6,083,067 TEUs.

Executive Director Gene Seroka attributed the strong performance to resilient consumer demand and the movement of equipment for data center construction and manufacturing. Industry leaders, including Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, noted a shift in cargo toward products supporting AI and electrification, such as batteries and solar panel parts. Additionally, retailers accelerated shipments to avoid the expiration of 10% global Section 122 tariffs in late July, which were replaced by tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries linked to forced labor allegations.

Seroka expects August volumes to exceed 900,000 units, though he anticipates a gradual moderation in imports through the end of the year. This projection aligns with a National Retail Federation forecast suggesting that the peak shipping season is ending. While imports remain strong, exports at the Port of Los Angeles fell 8% year-over-year. Future cargo flows are expected to depend on consumer demand and geopolitical stability, particularly regarding ongoing disruptions caused by conflict in Iran.