Port of Los Angeles Sets New Quarterly Record Despite US-China Trade War Volatility

Photo: FreightWaves / Jim Allen

This record-setting performance comes amid a market continually roiled by erratic tariff policies, unpredictable trade decisions, and uncertain economic indicators.

“As trade policy unfolds, we can only predict more unpredictability,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka during a press briefing. “When sweeping changes were first announced, importers abruptly stopped their orders from China. When those policies were softened and deadlines extended, cargo volume picked up again.”

“The supply chain has been on a roller coaster all year and that ride continues.”

In September, loaded imports reached 460,044 TEUs, a 7.6% decrease year-over-year, while loaded exports remained nearly flat at 114,693 TEUs. The hub processed 308,317 empty containers - often an indicator of future import volumes - down 10% compared to the same month in 2024.

Despite this, the Port of Los Angeles recorded a third-quarter volume of 2.9 million TEUs, its best three-month period ever. Year-to-date, total volume has reached 7,817,057 TEUs, a 3% increase over the same period last year.

President Donald Trump’s declaration on Wednesday that the U.S. is in a full-blown trade war with China was the latest salvo between the two transpacific trading partners. The deteriorating relationship has been wracked by retaliatory tariffs and tax-like fees on each other’s ships, as well as on container cranes and other port equipment predominantly manufactured in China.

“Approximately 20% of vessels that call at the Port of Los Angeles are China-made,” Seroka said, referring to punitive U.S. port surcharges, adding that only one such vessel called this week. “Some cargo-handling equipment and cranes are also manufactured in China. Tariffs in one area tend to lead to rising prices in other segments, in the end making goods more expensive.”

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Freight Waves)

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