Feature, Freight News, Sea

Port of Long Beach Sees Second-busiest January

[ March 5, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Port of Long Beach began 2026 as the nation’s busiest seaport, recording its second-busiest January on record amid ongoing trade and tariff uncertainty, port officials said Wednesday.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 847,765 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, down 11 percent from January 2025, which remains the port’s strongest January and second-busiest month in its 115-year history.

Imports fell 13.1 percent to 409,818 TEUs, while exports edged up 0.8 percent to 99,478 TEUs. Empty container volume declined 11.5 percent to 338,470 TEUs.

CEO Noel Hacegaba said during a virtual media briefing that the port continues to provide stability for customers navigating shifting trade policies.

“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,” Hacegaba said.

Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna said the January figures show the port remains competitive. “We are well on our way to another busy year for cargo,” he said.

The January decline follows a record year in 2025, when the port handled 9.9 million TEUs. That surge was driven in part by shippers accelerating cargo ahead of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs imposed last spring.

Hacegaba said uncertainty has persisted following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that declared two-thirds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act unconstitutional.

He said customers are seeking clarity on whether previously paid tariffs will be refunded, while consumers are looking for relief from higher prices tied to trade policy shifts.

Tags: Port of Long Beach