The Southern California port complex started the year on firm ground, with cargo activity holding steady despite tougher comparisons to last year’s unusually strong opening. The Port of Long Beach ranked as the nation’s busiest port in January and achieved its second-highest January throughput on record. While volumes trailed last year’s exceptional levels, performance remained consistent with long-term historical patterns remembering overall stability in trade flows.
At the Port of Los Angeles, cargo movement largely met forecasts. The total container volume and loaded imports finished roughly 3% shy of the port’s five-year January average, suggesting steady demand. Simultaneously, exports via the Port of Long Beach saw a modest year-over-year increase of 0.8%, which helped to mitigate the impact of weaker import activity.
By the Numbers
Port of Los Angeles — January 2026
Total volume hit 812,000 TEUs, a 12.1% decrease compared to January 2025.
- Empty Containers: ↓ 12.5%
- Loaded Imports: ↓ 12.9%
- Loaded Exports: ↓ 7.9%
- Total Loaded Volume: ↓ 11.9%
Port of Long Beach — January 2026
Total throughput totaled 847,766 TEUs, down 11.0% year over year.
- Loaded Imports: ↓ 13.1%
- Loaded Exports: ↑ 0.83%
- Total Loaded Volume: ↓ 10.7%
- Empty Containers: ↓ 11.5%
Combined Southern California Ports — Year-to-Date (January 2026)
Aggregate TEU volume across both gateways declined 11.5% compared with January 2025.
- Loaded Imports: ↓ 13.0%
- Loaded Exports: ↓ 3.8%
- Total Loaded Volume: ↓ 11.3%
- Empty Containers: ↓ 12.0%
Looking ahead
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which struck down a substantial portion of tariffs levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, has thrown a wrench into the works for both importers and exporters. Now, everyone is holding their breath, waiting for clarity on potential tariff refunds and the future of trade authority. March typically sees a dip in activity, a seasonal slowdown that follows the Lunar New Year celebrations, which kicked off on February 17th. This annual event temporarily curtails manufacturing and shipments throughout Asia. On a positive note, advance purchase orders, placed months in advance, seem to be holding steady. This suggests a return to normal demand, rather than a sudden drop-off. Current forecasts indicate that cargo volumes might stabilize during the first half of the year. First-quarter activity is projected to be down by less than 10% compared to last year’s high. Despite the adjustments companies are making to their sourcing and the shifting policies, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are still in a strong position. Their long-term competitiveness is supported by operational efficiency, ongoing infrastructure investments, and Southern California’s role as the primary trans-Pacific gateway.
Erik Larson