The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) released strong cargo volume figures for the month of March, down slightly from a year earlier, but still on point for the five-year running average, said port executive director Gene Seroka. POLA handled 752,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in March, around 3% lower than March 2025, in part due to the relative lateness of the Lunar New Year in Asia February 17, which led to 17 blank sailings. Seroka said the March 2025 volumes were artificially raised by importers front-loading orders ahead of the tariffs President Donald Trump announced in April.  

On the import side, POLA handled just over 380,000 TEUs in March, 1% less than the same month last year, and exports came in at 132,000 TEUs, 7% higher than last March. 

Seroka said that was the highest output number for the export containers that the port has seen in nearly two years. “While encouraging, we have much more work to do to develop a consistent upward trend,” he said at a press conference April 13. 

Meanwhile, the port handled 239,000 empty container units in March 2026, down 11% compared to March 2025.  

“It's worth noting numbers in the first three months of the year often fluctuate depending on where Lunar New Year falls on the calendar; that's why the first quarter as a whole tells a complete story,” said Seroka. Between January and March 2026, POLA handled 2.4 million TEUs, down 5% from last year, which Seroka said again was boosted by that pre-tariff uptick. “Overall, this puts us right in line with our five-year running average, and shows steady, consistent movement at America's busiest port after a rollercoaster 2025,” Seroka said. 

Seroka said the port was looking forward to a strong April, predicting container volumes of around 800,000 TEUs for the month in total, as retailers begin to replenish seasonal goods, including spring and summer fashion. 

“However, with uncertainty in the Middle East and trade policy still unsettled, we're staying ahead of it, keeping up with events, and are ready to respond to whatever comes our way,” said Seroka.