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Topic: Ports

The latest news and insight on the current state of U.S. Ports, including infrastructure investment, new services, labor issues, and global trade volumes.


July import spike marks 2025 high, but S&P Global Market Intelligence forecasts Q3 and Q4 slowdown
July imports, at 3.01 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), headed up 3.7% annually, topping the 2.90 million TEU in July 20214, and cracking the 3 million TEU mark for the first time.

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

Descartes report finds that U.S.-bound imports jump 18.2% in July amid trade policy shifts
July U.S.-bound container import volume—at 2,621,910 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 18.2% over June and were up 2.6% annually.

White House issues another 90-day pause for tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S.
Following a 90-day pause rolled out in May, which was set to expire today, the White House said yesterday, in an Executive Order, that tariffs on United States-bound imports from China will remain at current levels for another 90 days, through November 10.

42nd Annual Quest for Quality: North American Ports
Discover the winners of Logistics Management’s prestigious “42nd Annual Quest for Quality Awards,” honoring top performers in transportation and logistics services. This year’s survey garnered over 3,017 responses, evaluating providers across key criteria like On-time Performance, Customer Service, and Information Technology.

42nd Annual Quest for Quality Awards: Celebrating service excellence in logistics
Discover the winners of Logistics Management’s prestigious “42nd Annual Quest for Quality Awards,” honoring top performers in transportation and logistics services. This year’s survey garnered over 3,017 responses, evaluating providers across key criteria like On-time Performance, Customer Service, and Information Technology. Categories include motor carriers, railroads, ocean carriers, and more, reflecting LM’s commitment to excellence in service quality. Learn who stood out and what sets them apart in the logistics industry.

U.S.-bound imports are expected to decline, with reciprocal tariffs now in place
With the White House’s widespread reciprocal tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners taking effect on August 7, the report said it expects total 2025 import cargo volume for the ports cited in the report to be 5.6% lower annually.

Intermodal volumes see second quarter gains, reports IANA
Total second quarter, at 4,579,798 units, increased 2.4% annually, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of annual growth, following eight straight quarters of annual declines.

Dozens of countries are hit with new tariffs, including key trading partners
As of August 7, the U.S. has put new tariffs in place on goods from dozens of countries. The updated rates vary widely, with some close trade partners seeing 10 percent tariffs and others facing rates above 40 percent.

As more tariffs officially kick in, the economic outlook remains on an uncertain path
A common refrain among industry stakeholders has been that they know tariffs are coming, or have already arrived, but they badly want, and need, some clarity and stability on tariff rates in order to effectively take action, as it relates to a whole host of things, including: operations; sourcing and procurement; inventory management; capital expenditures; and hiring and staffing, among many others.

European Union pauses planned retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. for six months
Following a late July development, in which the framework of a large trade deal between the United States and the 27-nation bloc comprising the European Union, which collectively represents the largest trading partner for the U.S., was finalized, various reports published earlier this week stated that the EU is pausing is planned tariffs on U.S. goods, originally set for August 7, for six months, providing more time for both sides to come to terms on a broader agreement.

Services sector remains in low-growth mode in July, reports ISM
The July Services PMI, at 50.1 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), fell 0.7% off of June’s 50.8 reading, growing, at a slower rate, for the second consecutive month.

White House moves forward with reciprocal tariff implementation in Executive Order
While some previous implementation dates for the White House’s reciprocal tariffs placed on goods imported into the United States had seen those dates pushed back, or paused, that was not the case this time around.

Looking at shifts in trade and tariffs with John Lash, group VP of product strategy, e2open
The overall outlook remains fluid, in terms of the pace and also significance of trade deals being made up to the August 1 deadline. John Lash, group VP of product strategy for connected supply chain platform services provider e2open, provided LM with his analysis of what shippers may be in store for when the new tariffs formally take effect.

UPS Q2 revenue falls 2.7% amid economic uncertainty, Amazon volume glide down takes hold
Quarterly consolidated revenue, at $21.2 billion, fell 2.7% annually, and basic earnings per share, at $1.55 (short of Wall Street estimates of $1.57), fell $0.24, or 13.4%, annually. Total operating profit, at $1.8 billion, decreased 6.3% annually. 

United States and European Union come to terms on trade deal framework
With only a few days left until the end of the reciprocal tariff pause between the United States and its trading partners, the framework of a large trade deal was brokered yesterday between the U.S. and the 27-nation bloc comprising the European Union, which collectively represents the largest trading partner for the U.S.

U.S.-bound imports see a slight June decline, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
The firm reported that June imports, at 2.65 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), declined 0.8% in June, with the second quarter, at 8.02 million TEU, up 1.4% annually, following a 9.1% first quarter gain. Through the first six months of 2025, total imports came in at 16.16 million TEU, for a 4.6% annual gain.

POLA and POLB see mixed June volumes
POLA reported that total June volume, at 892,340 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), posted an 8% annual gain, marking the highest-volume June in the port’s 117 years of operation. June Port of Long Beach volume, at 704,703 TEU, fell 16.4% annually.

EU and Mexico face 30% U.S. tariffs as trade tensions escalate
the weekend he said that matching 30% tariffs will be placed on the imports from the European Union and Mexico to the U.S. on the same date—separate from sectoral tariffs.

Shippers face tight timelines and mounting uncertainty ahead of August 1 tariff shift
As the White House continues to send out letters to United States trading partners, regarding reciprocal tariffs that will be implemented in U.S.-bound imports, set to take effect on August 1—which was pushed back earlier this week from a previous July 9 deadline—there remains a general sense of supply chain and logistics uncertainty, for industry stakeholders, in terms of next steps.


December 2025 Logistics Management

December 1, 2025 · Persistent volatility, policy whiplash, and uneven demand left logistics managers feeling trapped in a loop - where every solution seemed temporary, and every forecast came with an asterisk. From tariffs and trucking to rail and ocean freight, the year's defining force was disruption itself

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