The Port of Long Beach processed more cargo than any other seaport in North America during both March and the first quarter of 2026, Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba announced at his monthly Supply Chain Insight media briefing.
First-quarter throughput reached 2,390,225 TEUs, positioning Long Beach as the continent’s busiest container gateway for the period, though volumes were down 5.7% from the same quarter in 2025, which was a record year for the port.
March throughput totalled 774,935 TEUs, a 5.2% decline compared to March 2025.
Imports fell 1.6 percent to 374,412 TEUs, while exports edged up 0.5% to 104,554 TEUs.
Empty container movements declined 11.1% to 295,970 TEUs.
Hacegaba described the March result as not the port’s strongest on record but nonetheless a performance that secured Long Beach’s position as the busiest gateway in North America for the month, crediting the ILWU workforce and terminal operators for delivering that outcome.
He noted that disruptions stemming from hostilities in the Middle East, including the blocking of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, have not yet manifested in cargo flows at Long Beach.
The briefing featured Jonathan Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the National Retail Federation, who addressed the pressures currently facing retailers of varying sizes as they navigate a complex and uncertain supply chain environment.
