July throughput nears the million‑container milestone
The Port of Los Angeles processed 960,464 twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July 2026, making it the second‑highest July on record. That total is about 6 % below last year’s all‑time July peak but still 7.5 % above the port’s five‑year July average, according to data released at the monthly media briefing.
Loaded imports fell to 499,552 TEUs, an 8 % year‑on‑year decline yet 6 % higher than the five‑year norm. Loaded exports dropped to 111,776 TEUs, also down 8 % from a year earlier, while empty container moves slipped 2 % to 349,137 TEUs.
Port executive director Gene Seroka highlighted the near‑million figure: “After topping one million container units in June, we nearly reached that mark again in July,” he said during the briefing. The seven‑month cumulative total now stands at 6.08 million TEUs, up 1.8 % versus the same period last year.
Demand mix: consumer goods and data‑centre construction
Industry observers point to a dual engine behind the strong performance. Marine Link notes that “resilient demand for consumer goods and equipment for manufacturing and data‑center construction” helped lift July volumes. The same theme appears in Maritime Logistics Professional, which adds that the shift reflects broader trends as the United States and other economies race to fortify electric grids and support artificial‑intelligence workloads.
Maersk’s chief executive Vincent Clerc corroborated this cargo transformation on a recent earnings call: “What is in the container is gradually changing.” He explained that containers once dominated by furniture, shoes and apparel are now increasingly filled with batteries, solar‑panel parts, wind‑turbine components and cooling units for data centres.
The change in commodity profile has operational implications for terminal operators, who must accommodate larger, heavier equipment and ensure appropriate stowage plans for high‑value electronics.
Tariff turbulence and an early peak season
Both Baird Maritime and Port Technology report that retailers front‑loaded shipments ahead of the expiry of a 10 % global Section 122 tariff on July 23. The temporary relief was quickly replaced by new Section 301 duties ranging from 10 % to 12.5 % on imports from 60 economies, imposed over alleged forced‑labour concerns.
According to the National Retail Federation, these policy shifts prompted an “early peak season,” with many holiday goods already arriving in July. Seroka told journalists that while the current pace is strong, it will not continue indefinitely: “We expect another strong month in August, although some cargo that traditionally arrives later in the season has already moved.”
Lance Hastings, president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, joined the discussion at the briefing, emphasizing how tariff uncertainty and fuel‑cost pressures are influencing manufacturers’ shipping decisions.
Comparative performance and forward outlook
The July numbers follow a historic June. Marine Insight recorded that the port handled 1,002,734 TEUs in June – its busiest June in 118 years and the third month ever to exceed one million TEUs. No other Western‑Hemisphere port has reached that single‑month threshold.
Adjacent Port of Long Beach also reported a strong July, moving 928,508 TEUs overall, including 467,461 TEUs of imports, as noted by both Marine Link and Baird Maritime. The parallel performance underscores the Southern California corridor’s role as the primary gateway for trans‑Pacific trade.
Looking ahead, Seroka projected “more than 900,000 container units in August,” based on current booking trends. The National Retail Federation’s forecast aligns with this view, expecting robust imports in August followed by a gradual moderation through year‑end.
What this means for operators
Ship owners and charterers should prepare for a high‑volume August window but anticipate that a portion of traditional holiday cargo has already been displaced. Vessels may encounter tighter stowage constraints as the cargo mix leans toward heavier, technology‑focused equipment; planners ought to verify weight distributions and consider potential delays at berths handling oversized data‑centre components.
The ongoing tariff regime adds an extra layer of cost risk. Operators should monitor customs documentation closely to avoid unexpected duty assessments on shipments from the newly targeted economies.
Finally, terminal capacity remains ample – Seroka affirmed that “terminals retain the capacity and operational readiness to absorb additional volume should shifting global trade routes redirect more cargo to Los Angeles.” Maintaining flexible slot allocations and proactive communication with carriers will be key to capitalising on any surge in demand before the seasonal slowdown sets in.