With potential higher tariffs on the horizon for several U.S. trading partners, the Port of Los Angeles announced Monday it had its busiest June on record, handling approximately 892,340 twenty-foot equivalent units as importers rushed to avoid an increase in shipping costs.
On Monday, Port of Los Angeles CEO Gene Seroka explained that in the month of June, dockworkers processed 470,450 TEUs, which represented a 10% increase compared to the same month last year. Loaded exports landed at 125,144 TEUs, a 3% increase, and 295,747 TEUs moved through the port, a 7% increase, compared to June 2024.
Six months into 2025, the port has handled nearly 5 million TEUs, representing a 5% increase over 2024.
“Some importers are bringing in year-end holiday cargo now ahead of potential higher tariffs later in the year,” Seroka said during an online briefing. “July may be our peak season month as retailers and manufacturers bring orders in earlier than usual, then brace for trade uncertainty.”
Seroka said the port closed the 2024-25 fiscal year on June 30, ending the period handling 10.5 million TEUs.
“That marks our third fiscal year exceeding 10 million TEUs, the only Western Hemisphere port to do so,” Seroka said. “And this time we reached that mark without a single vessel back up.”
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the date for new “reciprocal” tariffs, excluding China, to Aug. 1. The tariffs were initially set to take effect Wednesday. The extension allows for continued negotiations with 14 countries, including Japan, Korea, South Africa, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Recently he added Mexico and the European Union on that list, which could face 30% tariffs.
Meanwhile, Japan and Korea could face a levy of 25%, while South Africa, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, may see a tax at or above 30%.
According to the White House, Trump sent letters to those countries explaining that, starting Aug. 1, they will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates “designed to make the terms of our bilateral trade relationship more reciprocal over time and to address the national emergency caused by the massive U.S. goods trade deficit.”
It was noted that in some instances, countries will be subject to lower rates compared to those initially announced on April 2 while others may be higher.
Trump has said the tariffs aim to promote domestic building and manufacturing and pledged to fast-track approvals to bring back American jobs.
The announcement sparked criticism from some L.A. business owners and leaders, as well as California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
During the ports’ briefing Monday, President of Yedi Houseware Bobby Djavaheri spoke on the impacts tariffs have on small and mid-sized businesses.
The family-owned business was founded by Djavaheri’s father in 1984.
According to Djavaheri, his business like others suffered during the coronavirus pandemic and what he called the “ocean freight crisis.”
“Containers were nowhere to be found, some were being delayed,” Djavaheri said. “My containers fell off a ship, some ships caught on fire, and it was absolute mayhem.”
Under the Biden administration, he noted his business was “doing fine.”
“Now, with President Trump’s second term, we anticipated tariffs. We anticipated maybe 10-20% maximum,” he added. “We didn’t think anything after that would be even possible.”
The costs of the tariffs on stainless steel, appliances and other common goods have posed challenges for Djavaheri.
“We’re going to have losses for sure,” he added.