Port of Los Angeles Sets Record in June as Shippers Rush to Beat Tariffs

The Port of Los Angeles posted its busiest June ever, moving 892,000 TEUs, up 32% from May and 8% from June 2024, port officials said. The volume surge was driven by a rush to frontload goods ahead of sweeping U.S. tariffs scheduled to take effect August 1.

“It’s just this whipsaw effect,” said Executive Director Gene Seroka. “In May, people slammed on the brakes importing goods… and then with this little bit of timeline movement to August 1, you start seeing a quick shot up of imports.”

Tariffs Fuel Frontloading Frenzy

The Trump administration’s latest tariff announcements — with new rates of 20% to 50% on goods from key trading partners — prompted importers to expedite shipments. The port expects July to reach 950,000 TEUs, a rare peak-season-like surge.

• June Imports: 470,450 TEUs (+10% YoY)
• Exports: 126,114 TEUs (+3% YoY)
• Empty Containers: 295,746 TEUs (+7% YoY)
• Extra Loaders: 5 in June, 7 scheduled for July

“With pushing back the tariffs… we’re going to probably get one last push on imports,” Seroka said.

Outlook: Strong Now, Weak Later

Despite the short-term boom, port officials and trade groups are bracing for a steep drop in volumes starting in August. According to Seroka and the National Retail Federation, cargo demand is expected to fall by double digits as retailers already stocked up ahead of the tariffs.

“The year-end holiday cargo orders should already be in Asia,” Seroka said. “It’s too late to try to negotiate orders… for that all-important holiday season.”

Port Performance Snapshot

• First Half of 2025: Nearly 5 million TEUs moved (+5% YoY)
• Full FY (ending June 30): 10.5 million TEUs (+14% YoY)

Source: Transport Topics | SupplyChainDive