Overview of October activity at the two ports

Data recently released by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach show container volumes fell in October compared with the same month in 2024. Both gateway ports reported lower throughput across imports, exports and empty containers.

Port of Los Angeles October totals and trend

The Port of Los Angeles recorded 848,431 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in October, a 6.25% decline year over year. This follows September throughput of 883,053 TEU, which itself represented a 7.5% annual decrease.

POLA import, export and empty container breakdown

Detailed October figures for POLA were as follows:

• Imports: 429,283 TEU, down 7.0% year over year
• Exports: 123,768 TEU, up 1% year over year
• Empty containers: 295,380 TEU, down 8% year over year

POLA leadership reaction and immediate outlook

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka described October as an overall steady month, noting volumes were about 1% above the port's five-year running average for October. He said that performance is notable given the volatility in global trade this year, and that imports aligned with the five-year trend, suggesting consumer demand remained stable even as retailers and manufacturers moderated orders heading into year-end.

Year-to-date performance at POLA and year-end expectations

Through the first 10 months of 2025, total throughput at POLA stands at 8,655,489 TEU, up 2% versus the same period last year. Seroka warned the port anticipates a seasonal slowdown from now through year-end in the range of 10% to 15% compared with the same stretch in 2024.

There is a reason for that dip

He explained that last year's figures were unusually high after many shippers pulled cargo forward following the election amid tariff and trade-policy uncertainty, while this year retailers and manufacturers entered the season with better-stocked inventories, reducing the need for immediate replenishment. Despite the expected late-year softening, Seroka projected POLA would top 10 million container units for the year, which would mark the third time the port has reached that milestone and a notable achievement powered by the waterfront workforce and private partners.

Expectations for 2026 and policy context

When asked about 2026, Seroka told LM there is not yet sufficient information to make a firm projection but suggested the outlook could be firmer as some trade-framework agreements are in place. He pointed to the number of policy moves in 2025 and their effects on cargo flow.

• More than 110 announcements on trade policy and tariffs influenced shipping decisions during the year.
• High tariffs and strict policy at times halted cargo movements, particularly involving China.
• When policies were relaxed or deadlines extended, importers found windows to move cargo through Southern California quickly.

Seroka said these developments, along with longer extensions on China-related discussions and framework agreements, may produce greater stability in 2026 compared with the frequent policy changes seen in 2025.

Port of Long Beach October totals and context

The Port of Long Beach reported 839,671 TEU in October, a 14.9% decrease from October 2024. The comparison is to a particularly strong October 2024, which the port described as its strongest month on record in its 114-year history of operations.

POLB import, export and empty container details and year-to-date

Long Beach's October component figures were:

• Imports: 401,915 TEU, down 17.6% year over year
• Exports: 99,817 TEU, down 11.5% year over year
• Empty containers: 337,940 TEU, down 12.6% year over year

Through the first 10 months of 2025, Port of Long Beach throughput totaled 8,229,916 TEU, an increase of 4.1% versus the same period in 2024.