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Port of L.A. hits 3-month record as cargo peak stretches on
More than 2.9 million TEUs moved in June, July and August combined
Shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg)
Key Takeaways:
- The Port of Los Angeles handled more than 2.9 million TEUs from June through August, marking the busiest three-month period in its history.
- Strong imports persisted as businesses managed tariff changes, weather-related disruptions in China, Panama Canal constraints and higher freight costs tied to the Iran war.
- The National Retail Federation now expects U.S. import volumes to remain elevated in September before declining through the rest of 2026.
The Port of Los Angeles just completed its busiest three-month run on record, as the early peak season stretched through August and importers navigated changing tariff policies and extreme weather across the globe.
Dockworkers at the busiest U.S. container gateway moved more than 2.9 million container units in June, July and August combined, marking the busiest three-month period in the port’s history.
“We’ve put together an exceptionally strong summer,” said Gene Seroka, the port’s executive director. “September is shaping up to be another strong month, and Los Angeles is well positioned to respond as global trade patterns continue to evolve.”
Importers and businesses are grappling with supply chain disruptions related to storms in China that have caused delays at major airports and container hubs, capacity restrictions through the Panama Canal, and rerouted trade flows resulting from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Businesses are also facing elevated freight costs related to the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Seroka said despite favorable rates from Asia to the U.S. East Coast, many importers were still choosing to route their goods through Los Angeles because its links to rail and other efficiencies.
The port processed more than 955,000 container units in August, on par with the same month last year. About 500,000 containers loaded with imports came through the Southern California port in August, according to port data tracking volumes in 20-foot container equivalent units, or TEUs. That’s a tick more than last month’s import volumes, and nearly 7% more than the five-year average for August.
Port of Los Angeles waterfront workers processed 955,907 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in August 2026, capping the busiest three consecutive months in its history. More than 2.9 million TEUs moved across Port docks throughout June, July and August. https://t.co/mznOYknyVp pic.twitter.com/vGEDTBDEXo
— Port of Los Angeles (@PortofLA) September 9, 2026
Meanwhile, roughly 115,500 export containers left the port last month, reflecting a 9% decline from August last year. Empty containers came in 4% higher, at a little more than 340,000.
The National Retail Federation revised its peak season estimate, and the trade group now expects import volumes nationally to remain high in September before declining for the rest of 2026, according to the Global Port Tracker.
“We thought the peak season would be mostly behind us by now, but that’s not the case,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said in a statement. “Some of the shift from earlier in the summer to now is because of vessel delays due to bad weather in China and some rerouting away from the Panama Canal amid potential drought conditions there.”
