High Cargo Volume in August
WILMINGTON) – Waterfront workers processed 955,907 twenty-foot equivalent units in August at the Port of Los Angeles, capping what officials have described as the busiest three-month period in the port’s history.
The port’s executive director, Gene Seroka, announced Wednesday that workers processed more than 2.9 million TEUs across docks throughout June, July and August. August volume was 6% above the port’s five-year average for the month and on par with figures from last year.
“We’ve put together an exceptionally strong summer in Los Angeles,” Seroka said during his monthly virtual briefing. “Resilient consumer demand, early holiday shipments and a broad mix of cargo have all contributed to that strength.”
Seroka noted the port has good momentum as it heads into the final months of the year.
“September is shaping up to be another strong month, and Los Angeles is well positioned to respond as global trade patterns continue to evolve,” he said.
Loaded imports reached 500,302 TEUs in August, which came in nearly even compared to last year and 7% above the five-year August average. Loaded experts totaled 115,561 TEUs, representing a 9% decrease compared to August 2025.
Empty containers totaled 340,044 TEUs, a year-over-year 4% increase. During the first eight months of 2026, the port handled a little more than 7 million TEUs, 1.5% ahead of the same period last year and 5% above its five- year pace.
During the briefing, Seroka said trans-Pacific freight rates to the West Coast favor East Coast routings, while the speed of moving cargo through Los Angeles and onto rail can make the overall economics attractive for importers serving markets across the country.
Seroka was joined by Brian Dodge, president and CEO of the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Dodge explained that retailers remain optimistic about the holiday shopping season despite higher fuel costs, tariffs and other economic pressures.
“We’ve had an incredibly resilient consumer over the course of the last several years through a variety of different disruptions, and the same seems to be the case right now as we head into the holiday shopping season,” Dodge said.
He noted that a large share of holiday merchandise is already in the United States after retailers moved goods earlier this year amid uncertainty over fuel prices and other supply chain disruptions, while additional shipments will continue as retailers replenish inventories to meet consumer demand.
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