The Port of Long Beach reached its second-busiest August on record and marked the sixth-busiest month in its 114-year history. Retailers are receiving shipments purchased during a recent pause in tariffs, boosting the start of the peak shipping season.
Dockworkers and terminal operators handled 901,846 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August. This was slightly lower than last year, down 1.3% from the record set in August 2024. Imports fell 3.6% to 440,318 TEUs, while exports dropped 8.3% to 95,960 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port rose 3.7% to 365,567 TEUs.
“Shifting trade policies continue to create uncertainty for businesses and consumers,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Our digital Supply Chain Information Highway shows that peak season volumes are on pace with last year as retailers stock up for the winter holidays.”
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna praised the dockworkers. “Their hard work keeps goods moving safely and efficiently during the peak season. Our role as a primary gateway for trans-Pacific trade depends on it.”
Through the first eight months of 2025, the Port has moved 6,592,708 TEUs. That is an 8.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
