Tariff Confusion Drives Record Volume at Los Angeles Port
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The Port of Los Angeles said it handled the highest container volume in its 117-year history last month, as uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs drives shippers to front-load cargoes.
Already the busiest port in the country, Los Angeles moved more than 1 million 20-foot equivalent units in July, an 8.5% increase from a year ago, the operator said Aug. 13.
That includes containers entering and exiting its terminals, with loaded imports rising by a similar percentage to nearly 544,000 TEUs. The total volume handled was 14.2% higher than in June.
The spike was due to traders rushing to front-load their cargo to be able to reach U.S. stores before Trump’s import duties take effect, said the port’s Executive Director Gene Seroka.
July 2025 was the busiest month on record at the Port of Los Angeles, eclipsing 1 millilon container units, up 8.5% from last July. Retailers and manufacturers brought in goods at an elevated pace due to concerns of higher tariffs later this year. — Port of Los Angeles (@PortofLA)
Shippers are likely to continue to try to take advantage of any time-lag as confusion over the president’s aggressive attempts to reorder global trade disrupts shipping patterns.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride all year long, and the ride’s not over yet,” said Seroka in remarks released Aug. 13.
A shipment leaving China’s east coast typically takes three to four weeks to reach a port on America’s west coast. The number of dry-cargo ships making such journeys hit year-to-date highs of nearly 75 on a 15-day rolling average basis between late June and mid July, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Trump has extended a trade truce with China by 90 days till early November.
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