Port of Los Angeles Caps Record Summer as U.S. Import Strength Holds Up

The Port of Los Angeles capped its strongest three-month cargo stretch on record in August, adding to evidence that Southern California’s container gateway is carrying stronger-than-expected momentum into the fall.

Los Angeles handled 955,907 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, bringing combined June, July and August volume to more than 2.9 million TEUs — the busiest three-month period in port history.

The results come just days after neighboring Long Beach reported its busiest August on record, with the two San Pedro Bay ports combining to handle nearly 1.88 million TEUs during the month.

Los Angeles’ August volume was roughly flat from a year earlier but 6% above the port’s five-year average for the month.

“We’ve put together an exceptionally strong summer in Los Angeles,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said. “Resilient consumer demand, early holiday shipments and a broad mix of cargo have all contributed to that strength.”

Loaded imports totaled 500,302 TEUs in August, nearly even with last year and 7% above the five-year August average. Loaded exports fell 9% year over year to 115,561 TEUs, while empty container movements rose 4% to 340,044 TEUs.

Through the first eight months of 2026, Los Angeles handled just over 7 million TEUs, up 1.5% from the same period last year and 5% above its five-year pace.

The strong showing mirrors a broader U.S. import picture that has surprised to the upside.

The latest Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates now forecasts September as the busiest import month of the year at major U.S. container ports, with volumes expected to reach 2.31 million TEUs, up 9.6% from a year earlier.

That is a notable shift from earlier expectations that retailers’ rush to move goods ahead of tariff changes and supply chain uncertainty had pulled much of the traditional peak season into the spring and early summer.

Instead, imports have remained elevated. Seroka said September is also shaping up to be another strong month in Los Angeles.

“We’ve got good momentum heading into the final months of the year,” he said. “September is shaping up to be another strong month, and Los Angeles is well positioned to respond as global trade patterns continue to evolve.”

During the port’s monthly media briefing, Seroka said trans-Pacific freight rates currently favor West Coast routings over the East Coast, while the speed of moving cargo through Los Angeles and onto rail can improve the overall economics for importers serving inland markets.

Retailers also remain upbeat heading into the holiday season despite higher fuel costs, tariffs and other economic pressures.

Brian Dodge, president and CEO of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said much of the season’s merchandise is already in the United States after retailers moved goods earlier in the year, though additional shipments are expected as inventories are replenished.

“We’ve had an incredibly resilient consumer over the course of the last several years through a variety of different disruptions, and the same seems to be the case right now as we head into the holiday shopping season,” Dodge said.

Global Port Tracker still expects import volumes to ease later this fall, with October forecast at 2.11 million TEUs and November at 2 million TEUs.

For now, however, the latest numbers from Los Angeles and Long Beach point to a stronger finish to the summer than many had expected.

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