Feature, Freight News, Sea

Port of Long Beach Record Volumes Set to Plunge

[ May 21, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Port of Long Beach, after recording one of the strongest April’s on record – and its 11th consecutive month of cargo increases – is girding for a double-digit decline in shipments for May, due to the partially paused tariffs tit-for-tat.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 867,493 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs in April, up 15.6 percent from the same month last year and 5.7 percent better than the previous record set in April 2022. Imports rose 15.1 percent to 419,828 TEUs, exports decreased 4.5 percent to 93,842 TEUs, while empty containers jumped 23 percent to 353,824 TEUs.

“After moving the most containerized cargo of any American port in the first quarter of 2025, we are now anticipating a more than 10 percent drop-off in imports in May – and the effects will be felt beyond the docks,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Soon, consumers could find fewer choices and higher prices on store shelves, and the job market could see impacts, given the continuing uncertainty.”

“Even as the biggest tariffs were paused, we still should brace for the effects of tariffs following 11 straight months of cargo growth,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “As we monitor these dynamic changes in trade, the Port of Long Beach will continue to invest in rail and terminal improvements that will allow us to move cargo efficiently, safely and sustainably.”

Through the first four years of 2025, the port has moved 3.4 million TEUs, a 23.6 percent increase from the same period in 2024. (Complete cargo numbers are available at polb.com/statistics).

Tags: Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach