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Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka stressed that while cargo flows remain intact, the broader operating environment has become more unpredictable.

A combination of front-loaded cargo late last year, shifting tariff expectations and uneven inventory drawdowns shaped the softer start for U.S. ports in 2026.

U.S. port container volumes fell in November, but major gateways including Los Angeles and Long Beach remain on track for one of their strongest years on record.

Port container volumes remained strong in August as shippers angled to outmaneuver President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade policies while also getting a jump on the holiday season rush.

“July may be our peak season month as retailers and manufacturers bring orders in earlier than usual, then brace for trade uncertainty," said Port of Los Angeles' Gene Seroka.

U.S. port activity softened in May as tariffs weighed on trade, ending months of gains at Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle-Tacoma.

The Port of Los Angeles processed 801,398 20-foot equivalent units, a 2.5% increase from the 781,434 containers in 2024. This marked the second-busiest February on record for the port.

Dockworkers and the governor in South Carolina, the state with the lowest percentage of unionized workers, are digging in their heels over a labor dispute.

South Carolina has captured a $49.9 million deal for a cold storage warehousing and logistics company to set up operations near the Port of Charleston, Gov. Henry McMaster announced.

Dorsey Intermodal is on track to fulfill an agreement to supply more than 5,000 new chassis for the South Carolina Ports Authority, the trailer manufacturer announced Nov. 8.