Cargo numbers remain strong in July at L.A., Long Beach ports – Daily Breeze

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have each reported their second-busiest July on record in the more than 100 years since they were established.

The Port of Los Angeles processed 960,464 twenty-foot equivalent Units last month, making it the second-busiest July in that port’s 118-year history. The stats were released on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The Port of Long Beach, meanwhile, moved 928,508 TEUs, down 1.7% from July 2025. But it was still that port’s second-busiest July on record — and the fourth-strongest month in its 115-year history.

July cargo at Los Angeles was 6% lower than last year’s all-time record for the month. In 2025, businesses surged cargo ahead of anticipated trade policy changes.

“After topping 1 million container units in June, we nearly reached that mark again in July,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during his monthly news briefing on Tuesday, adding that another strong month in August is expected, “although some cargo that traditionally arrives later in the season has already moved.”

“Consumer demand,” he added, “remains the most important variable as we look toward the balance of the year.”

Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba initially announced July cargo numbers in a short video alongside Stephen Carmel, administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, on Wednesday, Aug. 12. But Hacegaba is expected to discuss those numbers during his virtual news conference on Wednesday morning, Aug 19.

Loaded imports in Los Angeles reached 499, 552 TEUs in July, down 8% compared with last year’s record month — but still 6% above the five-year July average. Loaded exports totaled 111,776 TEUs, down 8% compared with the same month last year. Empty containers totaled 349,137 TEUs, down 2% year over year.

During the first seven months of 2026, meanwhile, the L.A. port handled 6,083,067 TEUs — 1.8% ahead of the same period last year.

The Port of Long Beach has moved 5,758,086 TEUs through the first seven months of 2026, up 1.2% compared to the same period last year.

In July 2026 at Long Beach, imports declined a flat 0.1% to 467,461 TEUs, exports rose 14.8% to 104,843 TEUs and empty containers were down 7.4% to 356,205 TEUs.