The Port of Long Beach processed 767,525 cargo containers in February, an increase of 0.3% from the same month in 2025, despite ongoing uncertainty over federal tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East, officials reported Wednesday.
During an online media briefing, Port CEO Noel Hacegaba announced that cargo volume remained “solid.” Year-over-year imports were down 0.2% to 368,060 twenty-foot equivalent units, while exports increased by 8.2% to 97,422 TEUs, according to Hacegaba.
Empty containers processed by the port declined by 0.15% to 302,044 TEUs.
“Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach remained positive in February,” Hacegaba said in his remarks. “Despite growing uncertainty fueled by the conflict in the Middle East, cargo continues to move fluidly, planned shipments are on schedule and the Port of Long Beach remains a safe harbor in the sea of trade and geopolitical uncertainty.”
The CEO said the port is closely watching developments in the Middle East and the impact of last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, when the court ruled that about two-thirds of President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed last year were unconstitutional.
“The conflict in the Middle East has added more uncertainty to global trade and triggered broad market conditions and reactions from parties across the supply chain,” Hacegaba said, but he added that operations at the Port “continue without disruption. All terminals are open and cargo continues to move fluidly.”
About 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has slowed to a trickle since the conflict in Iran began, according to port officials.
“The disruption at the Strait of Hormuz has already triggered a rapid rise in oil prices,” Hacegaba said. “When the price of oil goes up, the cost of shipping increases and consumers pay more at the gas pump and for many everyday goods.”
Despite the higher gas prices, Hacegaba said the port has not seen any impact to cargo movement since the port mainly moves goods via the trans-Pacific trade route with Asia.
He warned if the conflict continues it is likely to disrupt global supply chains as companies will have higher fuel and vessel operating costs, or seek alternative shipping routes.
“The Port of Long Beach continues to be a strategically important seaport in the global market and a reliable option for customers,” Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna said in a statement. “We are ready to accept additional cargo if shippers need to pivot.”