The Port of Los Angeles handled 1,026,872 TEUs in October, its second-busiest month on record. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka reported the figures at a media briefing, following September’s all-time record of 1,042,652 TEUs.
Imports lead, exports lag
Loaded imports reached 538,620 TEUs in October, up 25 percent from a year earlier. Empty containers totalled 373,271 TEUs, also a record for the port.
Loaded exports fell to 114,981 TEUs, down 7 percent from October 2025. Seroka said exports have declined year over year in six of the first ten months of 2026, as American farmers and manufacturers face headwinds in overseas markets.
Cumulative volume through October stood at 9,108,497 TEUs, 5 percent ahead of last year.
Rail delays and labor talks
About 9,500 rail-bound import containers at Los Angeles had waited nine days or longer for on-dock rail. Another 5,063 containers at Long Beach faced similar delays.
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Of Los Angeles import containers, 67 percent moved through terminals within four days, 11 percent stayed five to eight days, and 23 percent stayed nine days or longer.
C.H. Robinson cited a shortage of intermodal railcars in Southern California. ITS Logistics vice president of global supply chain Paul Brashier said port congestion at Los Angeles and Long Beach remained highly elevated.
The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 have extended contract talks through November 20, and a strike remains possible. Other ILWU locals said they would honor any Local 26 picket line.
Outlook
Seroka said factories in China are running at full capacity and pointed to tariff easing and the suspension of US port fees on Chinese vessels. If December holds up, he said, this could be the busiest year in the port’s 118-year history.
He flagged possible Section 301 tariffs and high energy and food prices as risks to consumer spending.
