July volumes hit records for Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach

July was a record-setting month for volumes at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB), according to data recently respectively issued by the ports, with volumes paced by the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

POLA reported that total July volume, at 1,019,837 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), increased 8.5% annually, marking the highest-volume month in the port’s 117 years of operations. July also topped the port’s five-year average by 18%

Imports, at 543,728 TEU, represented the port’s highest monthly tally on record, and were up 8% annually. Exports, at 121,507 TEU, headed up 6%, and empty containers, at 354,602 TEU, rose 10%, for its highest monthly reading in four years. Through the first seven months of 2025, total POLA volume, at 5,975,649 TEU, is up 5% annually.

On a media call yesterday, POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka said that much of this volume was driven by importers bringing in cargo ahead of potential tariff hikes later this month and beyond. As for exports, he explained that July marked the second month of incremental gains, amid concerns among the agriculture sector and other exporters about the impact of trade policy on American goods headed overseas. Regarding empties, he said shipping lines took advantage of this opportunity to bring more empties back to Asia after an unprecedented July.

“Looking at key data for the [POLA’s] Port Optimizer, and talking to many importers, it seems likely that goods coming into the U.S. may have just peaked,” said Seroka. “A lot of inventory is already here. I don't expect a flood of cargo, despite all the trade announcements coming out of Washington. Whatever the outcome, the Port of Los Angeles stands ready to quickly and efficiently move our nation's imports and exports for U.S. businesses.”

Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Seroka said that POLA volume may have peaked in July, noting that August looks decent, volume-wise, so far, with the port’s current August estimate at 850,000-to-900,000 TEU. Which would come in below August 2024, when the buildup of inventory started to take shape.

“It is not a ‘loser’ of a month, but I think we are going to start to see volumes dwindle, simply because of all the inventory that is already in the country,” he said.

POLB data: The Port of Long Beach reported that total July volume, at 944,232 TEU, rose 7% annually, setting a new July record, topping the previous high set in 2024, while posting the third-highest tally, for any month, on record for the port.

Imports, at 468,081 TEU, saw a 7.6% annual gain, and exports, at 91,328 TEU, were off 12.9%. Empty containers fell 12.3%, to 384,284 TEU. POLA volume is up 10% annually through the first seven months of 2025, at 5,690,863 TEU.

“Retailers are now seeing the arrival of goods that were purchased for lower costs during the temporary pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs earlier this year,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by shifting trade policies, our Supply Chain Information Highway digital tracking tool forecasts that cargo will be down about 10 percent in the second half of 2025, resulting in a flat year for volume.”