Peak season came early at the Port of Long Beach, as shippers rushed to get ahead of impending import tariffs, giving the Port its second-busiest August on record, and the sixth-busiest month in its 114-year history.

Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 901,846 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, a relatively small decline of 1.3% from the record set in August 2024. Imports were down 3.6% to 440,318 TEUs, and exports decreased 8.3% to 95,960 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port rose 3.7% to 365,567 TEUs.

“Shifting trade policies continue to create uncertainty for businesses and consumers,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero in a September 15 statement. “Our Supply Chain Information Highway digital tracker is projecting our peak shipping season to be on pace with last year, as retailers start to stock their warehouses in preparation for the winter holidays.”

“I commend our dockworkers for their continued hard work to keep goods moving through the Port during the peak shipping season,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “Our reputation as a primary gateway for trans-Pacific trade relies on our ability to safely ensure the secure and speedy shipment of goods.”

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The Port reported it has moved 6,592,708 TEUs through the first eight months of 2025, up 8.3% from the same period last year.