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Port of Los Angeles Experiences Busiest June on Record
Tariffs 'Whipsaw' Imports; Trade Forecast is Gloomy for Rest of Summer and Into the Holiday Season
The busiest trade hub in the U.S. saw container traffic rebound last month after a slump in May, as importers grapple with volatility driven by President Donald Trump’s trade war.
The Port of Los Angeles processed some 892,000 20-foot-equivalent units, according to executive director Gene Seroka. That’s a record for June and up 32% from the previous month. Overall, volume in the first half of the year was up 5% from 2024.
“While record-setting volume is welcome news, it also highlights the tariff whipsaw effect,” Seroka told reporters July 14.
Since taking office for a second time, Trump has jacked up U.S. import taxes to the highest levels in a century or more — and added extra confusion for businesses by frequently announcing steep new tariffs only to dial them back soon after.
At the L.A. port, imports slowed significantly in May as the president hiked duties on Chinese goods well above 100%. But they picked up again starting around mid-June, after Washington and Beijing agreed to a truce to bring the rates back down.
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The port unloaded about 470,000 import containers last month, about 10% more than June last year. Export volume nudged up from a year earlier to 126,000 TEU, while processing of empty containers rose 7% to 296,000 TEU.
“Overall the combined cargo volume for the last two months is about the same as last year,” Seroka said.
U.S. business will likely have to deal with plenty more trade-war whipsawing. Just in the past week or so, Trump has threatened new tariffs ranging from 30% on Mexico and Europe to 50% on copper and 100% on Russia or countries that buy energy from it. What’s more, his protectionist moves may invite retaliation.
“There’s a concern among American outbound shippers that we’ll start to see more reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods,” Seroka said.
Seroka said he expects last month’s surge to continue in July, as companies rush to beat a new Aug. 1 deadline that Trump has set for higher tariffs on most U.S. trading partners.
But he also warned that higher costs, related to uncertainty as well as the tariffs themselves, will continue to hit importers. Trade forecasters expect a severe drop for the rest of the summer and through the holiday period that starts in November — typically peak season at the ports.
