Southern California Ports Brace for Another Import Surge

Southern California ports see continued surge of imports

Container imports through the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach remained exceptionally strong in October, passing the 1 million-TEU mark for the second time.

The two ports handled a combined 1,000,500 twenty-foot equivalent units in imports during the month, just below the record set in September. The sustained volume reflects continued movement of goods through the San Pedro Bay port complex, the busiest U.S. trade hub.

For trucking companies and drivers, the figures point to another heavy period of freight activity around Southern California distribution networks. Containers arriving at the ports must be moved to warehouses, rail ramps and other inland destinations, making port volumes an important indicator of demand for drayage and regional transportation services.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka attributed the import surge to several factors, including changing trade policies, uncertainty affecting other global shipping routes, consumer spending and retailers restocking inventory. Some companies are also bringing in equipment and other goods connected to the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The import gains have not been matched by exports. Compared with the same month a year earlier, exports declined 7% at Los Angeles and 6% at Long Beach.

The October numbers follow record-setting activity in September. Los Angeles handled 1,042,652 total TEUs that month, its busiest month in the port’s history. Long Beach processed 997,177 TEUs, up 25% from a year earlier and above its previous monthly record of 987,191 TEUs set in October 2024.

Combined, the two ports handled about 2.04 million TEUs in total cargo during September. The results made clear that strong import activity and changes in global trade patterns were continuing to concentrate freight at the nation’s largest port complex.

Long Beach also recorded significant rail activity in September. Total Terminals International handled 59,410 rail moves, a monthly record for the terminal and nearly half of its container volume. That level of rail movement highlights the role of inland transportation connections in clearing cargo from the waterfront.

Through the first nine months of the year, Long Beach had handled 7,675,255 TEUs, an increase of 3.9% from the same period a year earlier. Los Angeles had processed nearly 8.1 million TEUs, more than 3% ahead of its pace from the prior year.

The San Pedro Bay complex is a major part of the nation’s containerized trade network. When the two ports are combined, they account for approximately 31% of U.S. containerized international waterborne trade, based on the cited 2025 figures. Cargo arriving there serves distribution centers and retail markets throughout Southern California and the broader interior of the country.

The recent strength follows a busy summer. Long Beach recorded its most active July on record, handling 944,232 TEUs, a 7% increase from the previous year. Imports rose 7.6% to 468,081 TEUs that month.

Some of the increased activity reflects companies moving goods ahead of possible policy changes or adjusting supply chains in response to tariff uncertainty. Earlier expectations of a rush of cargo had also pointed to companies bringing products into the United States while costs and trade conditions remained favorable. The available port data shows the resulting import strength, but does not establish how long that pace will continue.

Port officials have cautioned that cargo volumes could ease later in the year. Long Beach officials have indicated that imports and exports may decline during November and December, while still saying the port has a chance to exceed the 9.6 million TEUs handled last year. The port has described its outlook for 2026 as a moderate increase in cargo, while broader industry projections have pointed to a downturn lasting into the first quarter.

For drivers, the changing mix of freight will matter as much as the headline totals. High import volumes can support sustained work moving containers from marine terminals, while softer exports may affect outbound loads and equipment flows. Rail activity, warehouse restocking and the timing of retailer shipments will also influence how much cargo moves by truck after containers leave the ports.

For now, October’s 1,000,500 import TEUs show that Southern California remains a central entry point for U.S. freight, even as trade policy, global shipping conditions and expectations for the coming months continue to change.