Los Angeles Long Beach Ports See August Surge Amid Economic Recovery

Published: 02/11/2026
Port Throughput Economic Recovery Supply Chain
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach both achieved record-high throughput in August, driven primarily by a surge in imports. Despite this, port officials remain cautious about the future, citing potential challenges from the pandemic and trade frictions. However, with the global economic recovery underway, the ports face development opportunities. They need to proactively address challenges and enhance their competitiveness to capitalize on these opportunities and maintain their crucial role in global trade.
Los Angeles Long Beach Ports See August Surge Amid Economic Recovery

The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB), the two largest ports on the U.S. West Coast, have reported record-breaking performance in August, signaling a potential rebound in global trade despite ongoing economic challenges.

Los Angeles Port: Breaking 114-Year Records

The Port of Los Angeles handled 961,833 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, an 11.7% increase year-over-year and the highest monthly volume in its 114-year history. This surpasses the previous record of 952,000 TEUs set in October 2018.

"This isn't just a number - it's a testament to the resilience of global supply chains,"

said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. "After seeing our lowest container volumes in over a decade this May, we're now witnessing significant inventory replenishment and retailers preparing for holiday demand."

Key August metrics for POLA:

  • Imports: 516,285 TEUs (+17.98% YoY)
  • Exports: 131,428 TEUs (-10.165% YoY)
  • Empty containers: 314,118 TEUs (+13.2% YoY)

Operational highlights included 89 vessel calls with only one canceled sailing, and an average vessel exchange of 10,817 TEUs - another record exceeding the August 2019 level of approximately 10,000 TEUs.

Long Beach Port: Best August in 109 Years

Neighboring Port of Long Beach reported similar success, moving 725,610 TEUs in August - a 9.3% year-over-year increase and its best August performance in 109 years of operation.

Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, cautioned that "while recent cargo surges are encouraging, uncertainties remain in international trade and the national economy due to the ongoing pandemic."

Long Beach's August breakdown:

  • Imports: 364,792 TEUs (+13% YoY)
  • Exports: 126,177 TEUs (+1% YoY)
  • Empty containers: 234,642 TEUs (+8.5% YoY)

Drivers of the Surge

Industry analysts attribute the ports' strong performance to multiple factors:

  1. Inventory replenishment: Businesses are rebuilding stocks depleted during early pandemic disruptions.
  2. Early holiday preparations: Retailers are importing goods earlier than usual for the upcoming holiday season.
  3. Shift in consumer spending: Continued demand for home goods, electronics, and fitness equipment.
  4. Make-up sailings: Additional vessel calls compensating for earlier canceled voyages.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the positive August results, port officials remain cautious about sustained recovery:

  • Supply chain congestion persists due to labor shortages and transportation bottlenecks
  • Trade imbalances continue with weak U.S. export volumes
  • Environmental regulations require ongoing operational adjustments

Seroka noted that while August volumes were more than double March's pandemic lows, "the supply chain has grown more complex with this import surge. We're working closely with stakeholders to address these challenges while maintaining fluid operations."

Both ports are entering their traditional peak season (August-October), with retailers stocking up for year-end consumer demand. The performance of these critical trade gateways will continue to serve as important indicators of global economic health in coming months.

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