After reaching new cargo heights in July, Port of Los Angeles volume remained strong in August as longshore workers moved a total of 958,355 twenty-foot equivalent units, nearly the same amount processed the same month last year.
August loaded imports came in at 504,514 TEUs, a 1% decrease compared to August 2024, while loaded exports landed at 127,379 TEUs, a 5% increase. A total of 326,462 TEUs empty container units were moved, representing a 1% decrease compared to last August.
The port has handled 6,934,004 TEUs so far into 2025, an increase of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024.
During a monthly briefing, POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka touted the port moved nearly 2 million containers in the last two months combined.
“That’s the best two-month stretch for any port in the Western Hemisphere,” Seroka said. “Retailers and manufacturers have continued to bring goods in early, both to get ahead of holiday demand and to hedge against any shifts in trade policy.”
He expects container volumes to ease through the rest of 2025.
“That’s because much of the year-end holiday cargo has already arrived, and economic signals like slowing job growth and lingering inflation are making both importers and consumers a bit more cautious,” Seroka added.
Vincent Iacopella, president of trade and government relations at Alba Wheel Up International, joined Seroka for the briefing as a special guest. He provides experienced customs broker and freight forwarder services, helping shippers navigate trade and supply chain challenges. He also serves on the United States Commercial Customs Advisory Committee, which works with Customs and Border Protection along with Treasury officials on trade modernization and enforcement.
“We have a very unique position in the supply chain in that we are regulated and licensed by Customs and Border Protection, but we’re the only member of the supply chain that has a power of attorney on behalf of the importer,” Iacopella said.
He emphasized that they also gather data to share with federal agencies to ensure consumer product safety.
With more than 100 trade announcements regarding policy and tariffs coming from President Donald Trump since January, Iacopella shared some advice with importers to remain agile and diversify within the supply chain.
“That’s a great place to start because you want to look at if treaties are going up in China and lower in Vietnam or lower in India and other places, you want to optimize that,” Iacopella said.
He also warned importers of total resourcing from one country.
“You have folks that left China and went into India and are actually paying a higher duty right now than before,” Iacopella added.