POLA and POLB see mixed June volumes

Volumes at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) were mixed in June, according to data respectively issued by the ports.

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. This marks the 11^th month of annual growth out of the last 12, with May being the only decline, down 5% annually and its lowest monthly cargo output in more than two years, due to the impact of tariffs and trade policy on import and export levels.

Imports, at 470,450 TEU, rose 10% annually, exports, at 126,144 TEU, headed up 3% annually. Empty containers, at 295,476 TEU, were up 7% annually. Through the first six months of 2025, total POLA volume, at 4,955,812 TEU, increased 5% compared to the same period a year ago.

On a port-hosted media call this week, POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka observed that June’s volume was paced by a strong performance over the second half of the month, adding that it highlights the ongoing tariff-driven whipsaw effect that POLA has cited in previous months.

“When tariffs kicked in, imports slowed significantly in May and continued to drop through the first half of June, then, with a pause on some tariffs, cargo began moving once again, getting our dock workers and truckers back out on the job,” said Seroka. “The combined cargo volume for the last two months is about the same as last year, and it also matches our five-year average. June saw a 32% increase compared to a slower May, and five unscheduled vessels, known as extra loaders, also helped boost inbound cargo in the latter part of June. For July, we already have seven extra loaders on the books, and in my view, we're seeing a peak season push right now to bring in goods ahead of potentially higher tariffs later this summer.”

For the fiscal year, which ended on June 30, POLA handled 10.5 million TEU, for a 14% annual increase, marking the port’s third fiscal year exceeding 10 million TEU—the only port in the western hemisphere to achieve this milestone, he noted.

Addressing trade policy and tariffs, Seroka said he recently returned from a visit to Japan where he met with nine of POLA’s top 20 trading partners, with the main topic being trade policy and its implications for Japan based customers.

“Many are looking at what's best for their company and their customers closer to home,” he said. “Here for retailers and manufacturers, the uncertainty reigns, trying to understand what to do, when and where to buy from, are all simulation tasks that continue the undercurrent of flows back and forth based on the information coming out of our nation's capital. And retailers are unlikely to order high volume speculatively and risk deep discounts after the holiday season later this year—and for U.S. consumers, lower inventory levels, fewer selections and higher prices are likely as we head into the holidays.”

Looking at July, Seroka said POLA is currently estimating around 950,000 TEU, which would be one of the port’s top-volume months. And with tariff levels expected to increase August 1, he said there is likely one last push on U.S.-bound imports, in terms of getting as much cargo in as possible in advance-but that comes with a caveat.

“Shifting [tariff] timelines simply means shifting volume and more uncertainty here,” he said. “Looking into August, if everything holds the way we see it right now, I expect volume to ease because of those new tariffs being in place, making it more costly for American importers. Even the National Retail Federation has forecasted a double-digit percentage drop in cargo volume from August all the way through November at U.S. ports across the nation. One thing is certain, the year-end holiday cargo orders should already be in in Asia, and what's going to be on its way is what we're going to get for that all important holiday season. It's too late to try to negotiate orders at this point in time for that year-end product.”

POLB data: June Port of Long Beach volume, at 704,703 TEU, fell 16.4% annually, with imports down 16.9%, to 348,681 TEU, and exports, at 87,627 TEU, down 10.9% annually. Empty containers, at 268,095 TEU, were down 17.4%.

Through the first half of 2025, total POLB volume, at 4,746,631 TEU, is up 10.6% annually.

“We’re anticipating a cargo surge in July as retailers stock up on goods ordered during the 90-day pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “The Port of Long Beach is prepared to handle the influx by tracking trade moving through the harbor with the Supply Chain Information Highway, our digital solution to maximize visibility and efficiency in cargo movement.”