Cargo volumes dipped sharply at Southern California’s container ports in May, reflecting continued disruption from tariff policies and shifting global trade patterns. The Port of Long Beach handled 639,160 TEUs, down -8.2% year-over-year. Imports dropped -13.4% to 299,116 TEUs, while exports fell -18.6% to 82,149 TEUs. The only growth came from empty containers, which rose 3.2% to 257,895 TEUs.

Neighboring Port of Los Angeles also saw a decline, moving 716,619 TEUs, a -5% year-over-year decrease in cargo volumes. Loaded imports were down by -9%, and exports dropped by -5%. Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka called May the port’s lowest-performing month in over two years.

While May’s results show contraction, Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said he is “cautiously optimistic” about a rebound of import cargo starting late June as retailers begin restocking for back-to-school and holiday shipping season. This expected bump follows the easing of the U.S. tariff on Chinese goods that had caused many retailers to hold or cancel orders.

The National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracker projects stronger activity through August, but forecasts point to a sharp decline following that. September import volumes are expected to fall -21.8% year-over-year, followed by a -19.8% drop in October.

On a year-to-date basis, however, both ports have posted strong year-to-date gains. The Port of Long Beach is up 17.2%, with over 4 million TEUs processed, while the Port of Los Angeles is up 4% compared to the same five-month period in 2024.

Source: gCaptain