September 17th, 2026 – The Port of Long Beach recorded its busiest August on record, handling nearly 920,000 container units as shippers continued to adjust supply chain strategies in response to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty.
The port processed 919,992 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during August, a 2% increase from the same month in 2025. The total also made August the fifth busiest month in the port’s 115-year history.
Import volumes increased 3.6% year over year to 456,100 TEUs, while exports climbed 4% to 99,754 TEUs. Empty-container movements declined slightly, falling 0.39% to 364,138 TEUs.
The strong August performance reflects continued confidence among shippers in the Southern California gateway as they navigate changing tariff policies and broader geopolitical uncertainty. Increased import and export activity helped offset the modest decline in empty-container traffic.
Through the first eight months of 2026, the Port of Long Beach handled 6.68 million TEUs, up 1.3% compared with the same period last year.
The latest figures indicate cargo owners continue to route significant freight volumes through Long Beach despite an evolving global trade environment. With both imports and exports posting year-over-year gains, the port remains a key gateway for U.S. international trade.
