With an earlier “peak” shipping season hitting this summer, both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach experienced busy months in May, with strong cargo numbers despite continued economic and political uncertainty.
The Port of Los Angeles processed 840,165 twenty-foot equivalent units in May, 17% above the same month of last year as import volume increased amid continued uncertainty surrounding trade policy and global supply chains.
The Port of Long Beach, meanwhile, moved 842,030 TEUs last month, up 31.7% from May 2025 — making it that port’s third-busiest May on record.
May was “a very good month here,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during his monthly news briefing on Tuesday, June 16, adding that it was only surpassed by numbers during the pandemic surge. Ships were in port fewer than four days, he said, and truck turn times continue improving.
“Thanks to our waterfront workers,” Seroka said, “this port is humming.”
Through the first five months of 2026, the Port of L.A. has handled 4,119,869 TEUs. That’s 1.4% ahead of the pace set during the same period last year, Seroka told reporters at the media briefing. Exports, however, were “a different story,” he added, down 10% in May from the same month last year.
The slowdown in exports, Seroka said, “must be corrected.”
But overall, Seroka said, consumers continue spending and businesses chart short-term courses ahead quickly.
“Our strong May performance reflects the resilience of the American consumer and the ability of businesses to adapt in a continuously changing environment,” Seroka said. “We’re seeing cargo move for a combination of reasons, including inventory replenishment, concerns about fuel costs, trade-policy uncertainty and preparation for upcoming retail seasons. Companies are operating with shorter planning horizons and taking advantage of opportunities when they emerge.”
May 2026 loaded imports in L.A. totaled 449,370 TEUs, a 26% increase compared to last year. The comparison was aided by softer import volume in May 2025, when many cargo owners temporarily paused shipments amid changing tariff policies. Loaded exports came in at 107,657 TEUs, 10% lower than last year. Empty containers totaled 283,138 TEUs, 18% above May 2025.
The neighboring Port of Long Beach, for its part, continued with a strong performance, charting a 40% rise in imports and a 32% increase in exports.
Year-to-date, the Port of Long Beach has moved 4,050,247 TEUs, up 0.2% compared to the first five months of 2025, putting that port on pace for its busiest year on record and in some months, topping L.A.’s numbers.
In Long Beach, May imports rose 40% to 418,851 TEUs, exports increased 32.9% to 109,168 TEUs and empty containers were up 21.8% to 314,012 TEUs.
The expectation is that this year’s peak season — typically seen in late summer when fall and holiday goods from overseas surge into U.S. ports — will hit early this year, during the early and mid-summer months, as suppliers take advantage of tariff and news cycles that could potentially, in coming months, present more disruption.
The Port of L.A., Seroka said, is “projecting a strong June, and we expect numbers to surpass 900,000” for that month.