The Port of Long Beach began the year as the busiest US seaport, recording its second-highest January throughput on record with 847,765 TEUs handled.
The figure represents an 11 per cent decline compared with January 2025, which remains the strongest January and second-busiest month in the port’s 115-year history.
Imports fell 13.1 per cent to 409,818 TEUs, exports increased 0.8 per cent to 99,478 TEUs, and empty containers declined 11.5 per cent to 338,470 TEUs.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Dr Noel Hacegaba, said: “We are leading the nation in trade, and providing a safe harbor in the sea of tariff and trade uncertainty for our customers and the goods movement industry. No matter what happens with cargo volume, the Port of Long Beach has the capacity, infrastructure and workforce to move goods quickly, efficiently and reliably.”
READ: Port of Long Beach closes year near 10M TEUs
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna added: “Our cargo numbers show the Port of Long Beach continues to be the Port of Choice for our customers. We are well on our way to another busy year for cargo.”
The volume decline follows a record 9.9 million TEUs moved in 2025, when shippers accelerated cargo movements ahead of tariff measures introduced last spring.
Hacegaba added that uncertainty is expected to persist following a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that found two-thirds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) unconstitutional.
He said: “While this decision ruled on the legality of the IEEPA tariffs, it did little to remove the uncertainty we’ve seen – and continue to see – across the global supply chain. Our customers are seeking clarity on whether tariffs already paid will be refunded, and consumers are seeking relief from higher prices.”
In December 2025, the Port of Long Beach named Mark Erickson to lead the Program Management Division at the port.
For more information:
Port of Long Beach – https://polb.com/
