Port of Los Angeles reports second-highest July cargo volume

The Port of Los Angeles reported its second-highest July volume on record, processing 960,464 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This figure represents a 7.5% increase over the port’s five-year July average, driven by resilient consumer demand and increased shipments of equipment for manufacturing and data center construction related to AI projects.

Executive Director Gene Seroka noted that peak season arrived early this year. Some retailers front-loaded shipments to avoid new tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries. While imports and exports were lower than the all-time record set in July 2025, the port has seen a 1.8% increase in total volume during the first seven months of the year compared to the previous year.

Industry experts suggest the shipping industry's reliance on retail goods is shifting as demand grows for infrastructure to support electric grids and artificial intelligence. Officials expect August to remain strong, with volumes potentially exceeding 900,000 container units.