The Port of Los Angeles handled 960,464 TEUs in July 2026, marking a 5.8% decline from the same month last year. Despite the year-on-year drop, July was the port’s second-busiest July on record.
The decline follows an exceptionally strong July 2025, when cargo volumes were boosted by importers bringing forward shipments ahead of anticipated trade policy changes. July 2026 throughput nevertheless remained well above normal levels, coming in around 7.5% higher than the port’s five-year July average.
Loaded imports totalled 499,552 TEUs, down 8% year on year but 6% above the five-year average for July. Loaded exports also fell 8% to 111,776 TEUs, while empty container movements declined 2% to 349,137 TEUs.
Despite the July decline, the port maintained positive growth for the year to date. During the first seven months of 2026, Los Angeles handled 6.08 million TEUs, representing a 1.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The port attributed the continued strong volumes to resilient consumer demand and ongoing cargo movements linked to the evolving trade environment. Import activity has also been supported by businesses seeking to manage changes in U.S. tariff policy.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said the strong July performance reflected continued demand for consumer goods as well as equipment and components associated with manufacturing and data-centre construction. The port is also expecting another strong month in August, although cargo growth is likely to moderate later in the year as retailers have already brought forward some seasonal inventory.
The July figures underline the continued strength of the Los Angeles gateway, even as container volumes begin to ease from the exceptional levels recorded during the previous year’s import surge.