The Port of Los Angeles, already the busiest port in the United States, announced that it handled over 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units in July—a record-setting milestone in its operations. This marks an 8.5% increase compared to the same month last year, with total volumes climbing more than 14% from June.
According to Executive Director Gene Seroka, the dramatic rise in container movement was driven by shippers front-loading cargo to ensure goods reached U.S. retailers before new import tariffs could take effect. Loaded imports alone rose nearly 544,000 TEUs, mirroring the overall growth rate.
The surge highlights how ongoing tariff uncertainty continues to disrupt trade flows. Many businesses are accelerating shipments to take advantage of any time-lag before new duties are implemented. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride all year long, and the ride’s not over yet,” Seroka noted.
Industry data further supports the trend, showing that nearly 75 dry-cargo ships departed China’s east coast for U.S. West Coast ports on a 15-day rolling average between late June and mid-July—marking year-to-date highs. With shipments from China typically taking three to four weeks to reach the U.S., traders remain focused on navigating shifting timelines and policy changes.
While a temporary 90-day trade truce between the U.S. and China has extended tariff deadlines until early November, uncertainty remains high, leaving ports, carriers, and shippers bracing for further fluctuations in global trade.
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