Los Angeles and Long Beach ports achieved their strongest January performance as importers rushed to move cargo ahead of anticipated tariff increases on goods from China, Canada, and Mexico.

The Port of LA moved 924,245 TEUs, up 8% from last year, said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. Import containers rose 9.5% to 483,831 TEUs, while exports dropped -10.5% compared to a year ago. The port also processed 327,143 empty containers, a 14% increase year-over-year. Seroka said this “normally indicates more cargo coming in the weeks and months ahead.”

The Port of Long Beach also recorded its strongest January on record, moving 952,733 TEUs, marking a 41.4% increase compared to a year ago. Imports soared 45% to 471,649 TEUs, while exports rose by 14% to 98,655 TEUs. Empty container movements also rose substantially, up 45.9% to 382,430 TEUs.

Looking ahead, Seroka expects a February slowdown due to the Lunar New Year but still anticipates elevated volumes in the next few months. He noted that some importers will continue to front-load in the short term.  “However, trade may ease in the second half of the year, just given the volume of cargo that has already been shipped,” he pointed out.

Source: Transport Topics