Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Tariffs, Fuel Costs Impact Port of Long Beach

[ April 24, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Though the Port of Long Beach saw a 5 percent decline in in containerized cargo in March, the San Pedro port still led North American ports for the month and through the first quarter of 2026, CEO Noel Hacegaba said during the port’s monthly Supply Chain Insight briefing.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 774,935 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in March, down 5.2 percent from a record March 2025. Imports slipped 1.6 percent to 374,412 TEUs, while exports edged up 0.5 percent to 104,554 TEUs. Empty containers fell 11.1 percent to 295,970 TEUs.

Through the first quarter, volumes reached 2.39 million TEUs, the highest among U.S. seaports, but down 5.7 percent year over year.

Hacegaba said Middle East tensions, including disruption risks around the Strait of Hormuz, have not yet reduced volumes.

“Despite these global pressures, the conflict has not yet reduced cargo volumes,” he said, pointing instead to tariffs, shipment timing and a tough year-ago comparison.

Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, said retailers continue to face cost pressures.

Hacegaba warned that vessel rerouting around conflict zones is lengthening transit times and raising costs across supply chains, with downstream impacts on pricing, including fewer discounts and higher thresholds for free shipping.

Rising fuel costs are also prompting new surcharges, he said.

Separately, Hacegaba marked the fourth anniversary of the port’s Clean Truck Fund Rate. Since 2022, more than US$62 million has been reinvested into zero-emissions trucks and related infrastructure.

The port is also investing in zero-emissions equipment and offshore wind infrastructure, including its proposed Pier Wind terminal.

A video of Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba’s Supply Chain Insight briefing is available at https://tinyurl.com/5n96sc98

Tags: National Retail Federation, Port of Long Beach