Southern California Ports Show Resilience Amid Softer March Volumes

Container volumes at the nation’s two busiest gateways — the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach — moderated in March compared to last year’s surge, but both ports continued to demonstrate operational consistency in an increasingly uncertain global trade environment.

At the Port of Los Angeles, total throughput reached 752,520 TEUs in March, a modest 3% decline year-over-year. While volumes were tempered by geopolitical tensions, shifting tariff policy, and broader economic uncertainty, performance remained in line with longer-term trends. First-quarter volumes totaled approximately 2.39 million TEUs, reflecting steady cargo flow despite a more subdued start compared to the tariff-driven import surge seen in early 2025.

Import volumes in Los Angeles dipped slightly by 1% to 380,733 TEUs, while exports provided a bright spot, rising 7% year-over-year to 132,129 TEUs — the strongest monthly export performance since mid-2024. Empty container movements declined by 11%, signaling a recalibration in global equipment flows.

Roughly 20 miles down the coast, the Port of Long Beach recorded 774,935 TEUs in March, marking a 5.2% decrease compared to its record-setting performance a year earlier. Despite the year-over-year dip, Long Beach ranked as the busiest container port in North America for both the month and the first quarter of 2026.

Imports through Long Beach fell 1.6% to 374,412 TEUs, while exports edged up 0.5% to 104,554 TEUs. Similar to Los Angeles, empty container volumes declined sharply, down 11.1%, reflecting softer repositioning demand.

Through the first quarter, Long Beach handled just over 2.39 million TEUs — a 5.7% decrease from its record pace in 2025, but still enough to lead all U.S. seaports in total volume.

Across both ports, the underlying story is less about contraction and more about normalization. Last year’s early cargo surge — driven largely by shippers accelerating imports ahead of tariff increases — created difficult comparisons. In contrast, 2026 is shaping up as a more measured and predictable environment, albeit one still influenced by inflationary pressures, elevated fuel costs, and ongoing geopolitical instability.

For supply chain stakeholders, consistency across Southern California’s port complex may prove more valuable than peak-driven volatility, as operators continue to prioritize reliability, efficiency, and throughput stability heading into the traditional peak shipping season.

Source: www.freightwaves.com