Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB) June volumes finished the first half of 2026 with very strong volume growth, according to data recently respectively issued by the ports.
POLA reported that total June volume—at 1,002,734 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 12% annually, for the busiest June on record for the port, and also marking the third time monthly volumes have topped the 1 million TEU mark, something only POLA has done more than once. Port officials attributed the strong month to strong import demand, with retailers and manufacturers pulling forward cargo, due to what it called “evolving trade policy,” as well as higher fuel costs and ongoing global supply chain uncertainty.
June POLA imports, at 530,538 TEU, rose 13% annually, for POLA’s third-highest import month in its 118-year history, and exports, at 128,365 TEU, flat annually. Empty containers, at 345,811 TEU, rose 17% annually.
Through the first six months of 2026, POLA reported that total volume, at 5,122,603 TEU, is up 3% annually and up 4% compared to the port’s five-year average.
On a POLA-hosted media call, POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka said that June imports were 18% above the port’s five-year average
“Importers aren’t simply moving more cargo now; they’re moving it differently,” he said. “Many companies have stepped away from traditional seasonal shipping patterns, advancing cargo whenever they see an opening rather than waiting for perfect conditions. In other words, retailers are making strategic decisions about when and how much to ship, balancing back-to-school and holiday demand against tariffs, rising fuel costs, and global uncertainty.”
As for exports, he explained they continue to face headwinds, especially for American agricultural and business interests.
He called the year-to-date volume tally a strong performance by any measure, but especially meaningful given all the uncertainty businesses have navigated for some time now.
“June also marked the close of our fiscal year here in Los Angeles,” he said. “We finish with 10.4 million TEU, making it among our best fiscal years in port history,” he said. “That’s another milestone that reflects the consistency of this port and the people who keep it running every day. The women and men of the ILWU, our terminal operators, truckers, rail partners, and all our stakeholders-they made this possible. Their professionalism, collaboration, and commitment to excellence are the foundation of all these remarkable accomplishments.”
Looking at the second half of 2026, Seroka said that it is important to note that the market remains in what he described as a dynamic cargo environment, with some cargo being pulled forward as businesses respond to uncertainty.
“However, at some point, those shipping patterns will normalize and volume will moderate,” he said. “It’s worth keeping in mind also that we’re comparing against an exceptionally strong second half of 2025. Last July, we exceeded 1 million TEUs as well, and August approached 960,000 units. Those are challenging comparisons for any port. That said, the data we’re seeing today suggests that the month of July should be another solid one, with cargo volume remaining above 900,000 container units. Beyond that, the picture gets a little harder to read because businesses are adapting in real time, and conditions keep changing.”
Those conditions include things like shifts in tariffs and trade policy, the Iran conflict, freight rates, consumer spending, and inventory replenishing, he noted.
POLB data: June Port of Long Beach volume, at 779,331 TEU, saw a 10.6% annual gain, for the port’s third-highest June reading.
Imports rose 11% annually to 387,025 TEU, and exports, at 86,446 TEU, moved up 1.3%, with empties, at 305,860 TEU, climbing 14.1%
On a year-to-date basis through June, total POLB volume, at 4,829,578 TEU, are up 1.7% annually, ahead of the 2025 pace, which was the port’s highest-volume year in its history.
POLB CEO Dr. Noel Hacebaga said on a media call that June’s results demonstrate the continued confidence that cargo owners and supply chain partners have in POLA and the resilience of the supply chain, and the continued demand for goods moving through its gateway.
“We’re keeping a close eye on several factors that could influence cargo volumes in the months ahead, including global economic conditions, consumer demand, trade policies, and geopolitical developments,” he said. “The end of the ceasefire affecting the Strait of Hormuz underscores how quickly geopolitical events can impact the global supply chain. U.S. oil reserves remain low, and when inventories are tight, the market has less cushion to absorb a disruption, that can put upward pressure on oil prices, increase fuel and transportation costs, and create ripple effects throughout the global supply chain.
Businesses across the shipping and logistics industry continue planning for a range of scenarios as they work to build more resilient and diversified supply chains. Trade policy also remains a key variable. Earlier this month, the U.S. announced that it will not renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement in its current form. This trade pact is valued at $2 trillion in annual trade, with U.S. exports to both countries exceeding $670 billion. We’re monitoring negotiations as they continue through the summer or potentially longer. One option we might see is the U.S. agreeing to separate trade agreements-one with Mexico and another with Canada. Stay tuned.”
