Freightwaves: Consumer demand fires strong July for LA port

Published by freightwaves 

The Port of Los Angeles handled 960,464 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July, marking the second-highest July total in the port’s history and extending a run of historically elevated cargo volume at the nation’s busiest seaport.

The figure followed a June that surpassed 1 million units, leaving July just shy of that threshold.

“After topping 1 million container units in June, we nearly reached that mark again in July,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, in a media briefing. “Businesses continue to move cargo when they see windows of opportunity amid an evolving trade environment, while resilient consumer demand is helping keep imports at historically strong levels.”

July volume came in 6% below the same month a year earlier, when shippers rushed to frontload cargo in anticipation of looming trade policy changes. Even so, the total ran 7.5% above the port’s five-year July average.

Loaded imports reached 499,552 TEUs, down 8% from 2025’s record month but 6% ahead of the five-year July average. Loaded exports totaled 111,776 TEUs, an 8% year-over-year decline. Empty containers moved at 349,137 TEUs, off 2% from a year ago.

For the first seven months of 2026, the port handled 6,083,067 TEUs, up 1.8% from the same period a year ago.

Seroka said another strong month is expected in August, though some cargo that typically arrives later in the season has already moved earlier. He pointed to consumer demand as the key variable for the balance of the year.

Seroka also emphasized that the port has the capacity and operational readiness to absorb additional cargo if shifting global trade routes steer more volume toward Los Angeles.