The Port of Los Angeles recorded its busiest quarter on record from July to September, handling nearly 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) amid resilient consumer demand and shifting global trade routes.
The port also handled nearly 4 million TEUs from June through September, marking another record for cargo volumes.
According to gCaptain, September’s throughput surpassed the previous monthly record, set in July 2025, by more than 20,000 TEUs.
The port handled a record 1,042,652 TEUs in September, making it the busiest month in its 118-year history.
The performance underscored the continued strength of the US’s busiest container port amid changes in global shipping patterns.
“September was a month for the record books, and it was part of an extraordinary run for the Port of Los Angeles,” executive director Gene Seroka said.
Behind the strong performance
In September, loaded exports increased 10% to 125,751 TEUs, while loaded imports rose 19% to 545,696 TEUs. Empty container movements reached approximately 371,206 TEUs, also setting a monthly record.
Seroka attributed the strong performance partly to greater clarity surrounding tariffs, which had eased from earlier levels this year, allowing importers to replenish inventories.
Resilient consumer spending and disruptions affecting shipping routes through the Panama and Suez canals also contributed to the increase.
“Consumer demand remains resilient, importers are replenishing inventories and more cargo is being allocated to Los Angeles as shippers navigate continued challenges along other global trade routes,” Seroka added.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: MARINA, IMSSEA launch specialised courses to enhance ship safety oversight
Los Angeles benefits from shifting trade patterns
Earlier in the year, retailers accelerated shipments to get ahead of anticipated tariff changes and supply chain uncertainty, raising expectations that the customary late-summer shipping peak would arrive early.
However, cargo volumes remained elevated through September, making Los Angeles one of the biggest beneficiaries of the extended peak season.
The port surpassed 1 million TEUs in June, followed by another strong month in July. Cargo volumes remained high through August and September, culminating in the record third quarter.
Harvard Business School professor Willy Shih said trade uncertainty was prompting companies to reassess their supply chain strategies.
“Companies are moving from purely optimizing for cost to optimizing for options,” Shih said.
“With so much uncertainty in global trade, businesses are looking for greater flexibility in where they source, manufacture and move their goods.”
Will the momentum last?
Whether the momentum will continue through the end of the year remains uncertain.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates’ October 8 Global Port Tracker report, the extended peak shipping season was winding down as import volumes at major US container ports began to ease from their summer highs.
The NRF forecast US container imports at 2.25 million TEUs in October, up 8.5% year on year, before declining to 2 million TEUs in November, down 1% from a year earlier.
These projections cover major US container ports collectively, rather than the Port of Los Angeles alone.
The NRF also projected that total US container imports across the ports it tracks would reach 25.8 million TEUs in 2026, up 1.4% from 2025.
Despite the anticipated slowdown, Seroka said the port remained focused on maintaining efficient cargo operations through the end of the year.
“Our waterfront workforce and supply chain partners have done a tremendous job handling these record volumes while keeping cargo moving,” Seroka said.
“After the best month, quarter and four-month stretch in Port history, our focus is simple: finish the year strong and keep delivering for our customers.”
READ NEXT: African nations explore port investments, alternative fuels for sustainable shipping
Ciara Mina 
Rosemarie Zamora 
Jacinth Banite