The Port of Los Angeles says the war involving Iran remains a concern, but not yet a direct threat to its own operations, as trans-Pacific trade continues to move without major disruption.
Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, executive director Gene Seroka said the port is monitoring the situation closely and remains in contact with overseas ports to assess whether cargo build-ups caused by the crisis could eventually affect shipments moving across Pacific trade lanes.
For now, he said, there is no sign of direct disruption at Los Angeles as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. He added that April is shaping up to be a solid start to the second quarter, helped by retailers replenishing seasonal stock such as spring and summer merchandise.
The Port of Los Angeles handled 752,520 teu in March, down 3% from the same month last year, when importers were frontloading cargo ahead of new tariff announcements from the Trump administration.
However, data from the port’s Port Optimizer system indicates volumes could rebound in April to around 800,000 teu.
Although the conflict has not yet materially affected Los Angeles, it continues to disturb global energy markets and shipping conditions via the Strait of Hormuz. A two-week ceasefire announced last week has so far failed to lead to a breakthrough, with weekend negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials stalling.
Dr. Jerrold Green, senior fellow at UCLA’s Burkle Center for International Relations, said differences in negotiating style remain a major obstacle. He described the relationship between Washington and Tehran as marked by fundamentally different approaches, with the U.S. favouring speed and deal-making while Iran tends to pursue a more prolonged strategy.
Seroka said it has now been more than 40 days since the war began, during which more than 4,500 ships on average have been unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
He warned that even if conditions improve, it could take months to untangle the broader supply chain effects.
