What happened this summer
The Port of Los Angeles strung together its strongest June-to-August run in history as the usual peak arrived early and never really let up. Dockworkers at the nation's busiest container gateway moved a cumulative total north of 2.9 million units in those three months, the highest three-month tally the port has ever posted.
"We've put together an exceptionally strong summer," said Executive Director Gene Seroka. "September is shaping up to be another strong month, and Los Angeles is well positioned to respond as global trade patterns continue to evolve."
Why volumes stayed high
Importers spent the summer working around a messy global backdrop: storms in China that slowed major airports and container hubs, restrictions on transits through the Panama Canal, and tariff-driven route changes following policies under President Donald Trump. Additionally, shipping expenses have been elevated because of the Iran war and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Seroka noted that even with attractive rates from Asia to the East Coast, many cargo owners are still opting for Los Angeles because of its rail connectivity and overall efficiency.
The August snapshot
August throughput topped 955,000 containers, roughly in line with the same month a year ago. Imports accounted for about 500,000 TEUs, a notch above July and nearly 7% higher than the five-year August average. Exports totaled roughly 115,500 containers, down 9% from last August, while empties increased about 4% to a little over 340,000. Separately, Drewry's World Container Index shows the spot price for a 40-foot box has pushed past $7,000, the highest since 2024.
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The NRF view and what it means for your wallet
The National Retail Federation now expects import volumes across the country to stay strong in September before easing through the remainder of 2026, the Global Port Tracker reports. As NRF's Jonathan Gold put it, "We thought the peak season would be mostly behind us by now, but that's not the case." He added that part of the change from earlier summer patterns reflects vessel delays from severe weather in China and a degree of rerouting that steers ships past the Panama Canal because of possible drought conditions.
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