The Port of Long Beach began 2025 with its strongest January on record and its second-busiest month on record , driven largely by retailers moving cargo ahead of anticipated tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada.
The port handled 952,733 20-foot containers (TEU) in January , 41.4% more than in the same month last year and surpassing the previous record, set in January 2022, by 18.9 percent.
Imports increased by 45% to 471,649 TEU and exports increased by 14% to 98,655 TEU. Empty containers circulating through the port increased by 45.9% to 382,430 TEU.
“It is encouraging to start the year with such strength. I thank and congratulate all of our partners for their hard work. We will continue to focus on improving both our competitiveness and our sustainability, regardless of the uncertainties in the supply chain,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach.
The strong start to 2025 marks the port’s eighth consecutive monthly year-over-year increase in cargo and follows a record year with 9,649,724 TEUs moved in 2024 .
“Our longshoreman workforce, marine terminal operators and industry partners continue to move a record amount of cargo to make this the premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade. We head into 2025 with a positive focus on our efforts to provide top-notch customer service while growing sustainably,” said Bonnie Lowenthal, president of the Port of Long Beach Commission.
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