In September, the Port of Los Angeles handled 1,042,652 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a new monthly record in its 118-year history. The third quarter and four-month June to September period set new records for cargo volumes, helped along by strong import activity.
September’s total was more than 20,000 TEUs over the previous monthly record of July 2025. The port handled close to 3 million TEUs during July to September, the busiest quarter ever. June to September cargo volumes neared 4 million TEUs, making it the strongest four-month period in the port’s history.
The figures point to a long high season for shipping with buoyant demand despite economic uncertainty, higher interest rates, unpredictable tariff policies and persistent geopolitical tensions.
Loaded imports in September totaled 545,696 TEUs, an increase of 19% over the year-ago period. Loaded exports also showed solid growth, rising 10 percent year over year to 125,751 TEUs. In contrast, empty-container movements reached around 371,206 TEUs, a new monthly record for this category.
The Port of Los Angeles moved nearly 8.1 million TEUs in the first nine months of 2026, up more than 3% from the same period in 2025.
During a media briefing, Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said a combination of factors contributed to the outstanding performance including continued consumer demand, inventory restocking and the choices of shippers to route more freight through Los Angeles as other major global trade lanes experience operational issues.
“September was a record month and part of an exceptional run for the Port of Los Angeles,” Seroka said.
Changes in the tariff environment are also supporting the import activity, Seroka said. With tariffs retreating from earlier year levels, importers had better visibility on costs and could therefore begin to rebuild inventories with more confidence.
Further support was provided by continued consumer spending. At the same time, problems plaguing shipping routes through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal resulted in some shippers sending more freight to Los Angeles, helping to contribute to the port’s record-setting performance.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the results demonstrated the port’s importance as an economic driver for both the city and the wider United States. She praised Seroka’s leadership and recognized the contribution of members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), whose work has been essential to handling the increased cargo volumes.
“Los Angeles is strong because our Port is strong, and none of this would be possible without our talented, dedicated, and skilled workforce,” Bass said.
The September milestone reinforces the Port of Los Angeles’ position as a major gateway for international trade, with sustained import demand, inventory restocking and adjustments to global shipping routes helping deliver record volumes throughout 2026.
