Port of Los Angeles Sets Western Hemisphere Record in September
The Port of Los Angeles handled 1.42 million TEUs in September, the highest monthly volume ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, driven by lower tariffs and supply chain shifts away from the Panama and Suez canals.
The Port of Los Angeles moved 1.42 million TEUs in September, its best single month ever and the highest monthly volume ever recorded by a port in the Western Hemisphere. July through September was the port’s strongest quarter on record at nearly 3 million TEUs, and the four-month stretch from June to September was the strongest ever recorded, moving almost four million container units. Through September, 2026 volume stood at nearly 8.1 million TEUs, up about 3% from the same period in 2025.
Drivers behind the September surge
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka attributed the volume increase to lower tariff levels, resilient consumer demand, and cargo rerouting. He said ocean carriers and shippers are shifting more cargo to Los Angeles from Panama Canal routings, where higher fuel costs tied to Middle East conflict have made shorter, faster transits more valuable. Seroka also cited typhoon-related schedule disruptions in Asia, cargo 'roll pools' before China’s national holiday, and continued holiday-season replenishment as reasons for raised volumes.
Import and export performance
September imports totaled 546,000 loaded TEUs, up 19% year over year and 26% above the port’s five-year average. Exports rose 10% to 126,000 loaded TEUs. The port also handled a record 371,000 empty containers in September as carriers repositioned equipment to Asia.
| Metric | September 2026 Figure | Change vs. Prior Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Volume | 1.42 million TEUs | Record High |
| Loaded Imports | 546,000 TEUs | Up 19% |
| Loaded Exports | 126,000 TEUs | Up 10% |
| Empty Containers | 371,000 TEUs | Record High |
Changing trade partnerships and supply chain strategies
Seroka noted significant shifts in trade partnerships. Vietnam is now the port’s second-largest trading partner behind China, with its volume quadrupling over the past decade. Thailand has entered the port’s top five trading partners for the first time. China’s share of the port’s business has fallen from 60% to 40%, though Seroka said diversification has been slower than many importers would like.
Harvard Business School Professor Willy Shih, a guest at the briefing, said apparent shifts away from China often reflect changes in final assembly rather than a true reduction in upstream dependence. He noted Vietnam and Mexico still rely heavily on Chinese components. Shih said companies are increasingly "optimizing for options" rather than lowest cost, because frequent policy changes make long-term commitments difficult. He added that building comparable supplier networks in Mexico could take about a decade.
Outlook and ongoing uncertainties
Seroka said the port expects October volume of about 900,000 TEUs, with purchase orders in Asia remaining solid. He cautioned that November and December are difficult to forecast, citing tariffs as a central source of uncertainty. Importers are making rapid decisions based on cost, demand, and policy deadlines. Despite this, Seroka said the port is generally flowing smoothly and truck turns are healthy. He projected October volume of about 900,000 TEUs.
