Ports Handle 1 Million Import Containers Again
Combined October imports at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reached 1,000,500 TEUs, just off September's record.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Transportation
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Import containers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach passed 1 million for the second time, with combined October volume of 1,000,500 TEUs. Exports fell 7% at Los Angeles and 6% at Long Beach compared to last year.
Why it matters
The surge is driven by importers frontloading goods ahead of a U.S.-China trade truce expiring in January, along with shifting trade policy and uncertainty on other global shipping routes. High volumes have caused backups, especially for rail-bound cargo, at major West Coast ports, which affects how quickly goods move to inland markets.
Loaded import, export and empty container volumes rose more than 20% at Los Angeles and 11% at Long Beach compared to October last year, while exports fell 7% and 6%. Empty containers were up 26% at Los Angeles and 13% at Long Beach, and it remains unclear how long the elevated volumes will last.
The players
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles is the busiest container port in the United States and a central gateway for trade with Asia.
Port of Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach is one of the largest container ports in the United States and sits alongside the Port of Los Angeles on the San Pedro Bay.
The details
Ocean carriers are repositioning empty containers to meet more shipments from Asia, and retailers are restocking inventory during the surge. Some firms are importing goods tied to the AI buildout while others contend with extended tariff uncertainty.
Timeline
October 2026: Combined imports reached 1,000,500 TEUs at both ports.
Nov. 20, 2026: Deadline for security workers' union and employers to reach an agreement.
January 2027: U.S.-China trade truce expires and imports are projected to fall 3% year over year.
Market Landscape
The import surge is largely a rush to bring goods in before the U.S.-China trade truce expires in January, a pattern that typically pulls volume forward and then lowers it afterward. Projections of a 3% drop in January imports suggest the frontloading may be followed by a slowdown in the months ahead.
Retailers restocking during the surge may keep store shelves better supplied, but rail backups for inland-bound cargo could slow delivery of some goods. If the labor deadline passes without agreement, operations at both ports could face disruption.
The takeaway
Watch the November 20 labor deadline and January import figures together, since they will show whether the current surge is sustained or fades once the trade truce expires.
What happens next
The security workers' union and employers face a Nov. 20, 2026 deadline to reach an agreement that could disrupt operations at both ports.
Further reading
For more on how freight volumes move through the state, see Transportation coverage on California.
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