Tariff concerns prompt volume surge at Long Beach port

The Port of Long Beach last month recorded its strongest January freight movement on record and its second busiest month ever.

The trend was predominantly driven by retailers moving cargo ahead of anticipated tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada, port officials said in a press release.

The port handled 952,733 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, a 41.4% increase compared to January 2024. The January 2025 TEUs surpassed the record set in January 2022 by 18.9%. Imports jumped by 45% to 471,649 TEUs, and exports rose 14% to 98,655 TEUs in January year-over-year.

Empty containers moved through the port at a higher rate, too, in January, increasing 45.9% from last year to 382,430 TEUs. January was the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year cargo increase, port officials said.

“We will continue to focus on enhancing both our competitiveness and sustainability, no matter the uncertainties in the supply chain,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero.