Cargo drops by 8.2% in May, summer boost anticipated

PORT OF LONG BEACH

Officials are ‘cautiously optimistic’ that commerce will rebound

By Donna Littlejohn

Cargo numbers declined by 8.2% in May at the Port of Long Beach, a dip port officials attributed to the impact of U.S. tariffs on imports and retaliatory tariffs from other nations.

But officials said they expect numbers to go up by late June because of a temporary pause on those tariffs.

“We remain cautiously optimistic that import cargo will rebound at the end of June and into July just in time for the peak shipping season, when retailers stock the shelves with back-to-school supplies and begin preparations for the winter holidays,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said in a Tuesday statement. “While uncertainty remains for the business sector, the Port of Long Beach is continuing to invest in rail and terminal improvements to move cargo efficiently, safely and sustainably.”

Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 639,160 twenty-foot equivalent units in May, down 8.2% from the same month last year. Imports dropped 13.4% to 299,116 TEUs and exports decreased 18.6% to 82,149 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port rose 3.2% to 257,895 TEUs.

“We are monitoring the development of the new trade policies and the effects on our dockworkers and others across the supply chain,” Long Beach harbor commission President Bonnie Lowenthal said. “We are staying in close contact with our customers and other port stakeholders as they work to handle the ongoing changes in trade.”

The port has moved 4,042,228 TEUs during the first five months of 2025, up 17.2% from the same period in 2024.

The same trajectory was seen in the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, where 716,619 TEUs were processed in May, 5% less than the same month last year.

After 10 straight months of year-over-year growth, overall cargo volume slowed because of the impact of tariffs on both imports and exports, Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka said Friday.

The L.A. port, however, expected to see about 122,000 TEUs come in this week and then about 124,000 next week, which, Seroka said, is “pretty average” and compares to the “pretty weak” start of June last year.

For complete Port of Long Beach numbers, go to polb.com/statistics. Port of L.A. cargo date can be found at portoflosangeles .org/business/operations.