The busiest port complex in the country saw a drop in cargo volumes in September. Changes in trade policies and increased tariffs have reduced consumer demand and affected shipping patterns across the trans-Pacific trade routes.
At the Port of Long Beach, 797,537 twenty-foot equivalent units were processed last month, which is a 3.9% decrease compared to September 2024. Imports fell by 6.9% to 388,084 TEUs, while exports dropped by 3.6% to 85,081 TEUs. Meanwhile, at the Port of Los Angeles, dockworkers managed 883,053 TEUs in September, down 7.5% from last year.
Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, noted, “Tariffs affect how consumers and businesses make financial choices and purchases.” He anticipates a stable October but expects a slight decline in November due to expected weather-related delays and changes in ship schedules.
Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, highlighted the instability in the maritime industry. He explained, “When significant changes were first announced, importers suddenly halted their orders from China. After those policies were eased and deadlines extended, cargo volumes increased again. The supply chain has been unpredictable all year, and that trend continues.”
He added, “One area facing tariffs often leads to higher prices in others, ultimately making goods more expensive.”
Despite the decline in September, both ports reported strong results for the third quarter. Long Beach processed 2,643,614 TEUs from July 1 to September 30, marking its second-busiest quarter ever. Los Angeles finished the quarter by moving 2.9 million TEUs, its best three-month performance.
In the first nine months of 2025, the Port of Long Beach handled 7,390,245 TEUs, up 6.8% from the same period in 2024. The Port of Los Angeles processed 7,817,057 TEUs through September, a 3% increase over last year.
This recent data is consistent with overall industry forecasts. The National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates have projected that monthly import cargo at major U.S. container ports is will likely fall below 2 million TEUs for the rest of 2025. This decrease follows the fact that retailers have already acquired most of their holiday inventory while coping with rising tariffs across multiple sectors.
Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at NRF, explained, “This year’s peak season has passed, primarily because retailers ordered more imports ahead of the expected tariffs.” He noted that although new tariffs keep being introduced, many retailers are well-stocked for the holiday season and are trying to shield their customers from tariff costs for as long as possible.
Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, cautioned about ongoing uncertainty. He stated, “The ever-changing U.S. tariff policies are creating significant economic uncertainty, with trade volumes expected to fluctuate unpredictably over the next four to six months. Many larger companies have stocked up on goods, but as those supplies run low, the full inflationary impact of the tariffs will become clear.”
Forecasts predict that shipping volumes in January 2026 will reach 1.87 million TEUs, a 16.1% drop from the previous year, and in February 1.77 million TEUs, down 12.8%.