The Port of Los Angeles processed 752,520 TEUs in March 2026, a 3% decrease compared to March 2025, when shippers had front-loaded cargo in anticipation of rising tariffs.
First-quarter total throughput reached 2,388,843 TEUs, consistent with the port’s five-year quarterly average and reflecting steady underlying performance despite a volatile trade environment.
March loaded imports totalled 380,733 TEUs, just 1% below the prior year figure, while loaded exports reached 132,129 TEUs, a 7% increase over 2025 and the highest outbound container volume recorded since May 2024.
Empty container units processed amounted to 239,658, an 11% decline year-on-year.
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka described the first-quarter result as solid and consistent, noting that reliability and operational efficiency remain the port’s priorities amid broad economic uncertainty.
He highlighted unsettled tariff policy, rising inflation and the economic effects of the Middle East conflict, particularly on fuel prices, as factors weighing on both consumers and businesses.
The media briefing featured Dr. Jerrold Green, Senior Fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations, who addressed the broader implications of the conflict in the Middle East and the significance of the tenuous ceasefire announced the previous week for regional trade flows and global supply chain stability.
