Cargo volumes remained generally in line with February patterns in the San Pedro Bay, with each port posting its highest numbers for the month since 2023.
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach combined to process more than 1.59 million TEUs in February, up from the nearly 1.57 million handled last year. The consistency was likely welcome in an era of disrupted trade patterns thanks to ongoing tariffs and global conflicts that have escalated in recent months.
“With so many developments affecting supply chains – from the conflict unfolding in the Middle East to the Supreme Court tariff ruling and broader trade policy shifts – there’s real uncertainty across the industry right now,” Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka said in his monthly media briefing. “Even so, manufacturing flows serving the United States continue to move, and we’re not seeing disruption to U.S.-bound cargo today.”
Dockworkers at the Port of L.A. handled 824,323 TEUs – 20-foot-equivalent units, which roughly measures cargo volumes based on the capacity of a 20-foot container – in February. That includes 433,812 loaded import TEUs (up 5% from last year) and 116,633 loaded export TEUs (up 7% from last year.)
Meanwhile, those at the Port of Long Beach handled 767,525 TEUs, including 368,060 import TEUs (down 0.2%) and 97,422 export TEUs (up 8.2%). The remaining sum is composed of empty containers moving in either direction.
For January and February combined, the Port of L.A. and Port of Long Beach volumes are down by about 5% and 6%, respectively. The context here is that last year was a combined all-time record for the two ports.
Although both ports service trade between East Asia across the Pacific Ocean, leaders nonetheless remained wary of the developing war between the United State and its allies against Iran and its proxies throughout the Middle East. The hostilities in particular have strained traversal of the Strait of Hormuz that bisects Iran from American allies on the Arabian Peninsula.
“Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach remained positive in February,” Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Noel Hacegaba said at his own media briefing. “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.”
Another recurring trend figures to depress volumes in the next months: Lunar New Year.
“Retailers and manufacturers brought in cargo ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when many factories paused production in Asia,” Seroka said. “As we head into our traditional slack season, it will be followed by some replenishment of inventories, particularly spring and summer fashion goods. The Port of Los Angeles will be prepared with efficient operations, terminal capacity and the world’s best waterfront workforce.”