The Port of Los Angeles handled a record 1,042,652 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September 2026, marking the busiest month in its 118-year history. The milestone surpassed the port’s previous monthly record, set in July 2025, by more than 20,000 TEUs. The September performance also contributed to the busiest quarter in the port’s history, with nearly 3 million TEUs processed between July and September. Over the four-month period from June through September, container throughput approached 4 million TEUs, reflecting sustained cargo activity at one of the United States’ most important international trade gateways.
Import volumes were a major contributor to the record. Loaded imports reached 545,696 TEUs, representing a 19% increase compared with September 2025, while loaded exports rose 10% to 125,751 TEUs. Empty-container movements also reached a monthly record of approximately 371,206 TEUs. By the end of September, the port had handled nearly 8.1 million TEUs since the beginning of 2026, more than 3% above the same period in the previous year. These figures highlight the scale of container movements through Los Angeles, which connects international ocean shipping services with inland transportation networks, distribution centers, and major consumer markets across the United States.
According to Port Executive Director Gene Seroka, the increase in cargo activity was supported by resilient consumer demand, inventory replenishment, and additional shipments moving through Los Angeles as businesses responded to challenges affecting other global trade routes. Greater tariff certainty and continued consumer spending were also identified as contributing factors. The record demonstrates the importance of the Port of Los Angeles within international container transportation and the broader U.S. supply chain. As freight volumes move through major gateways, coordination between ocean carriers, terminal operators, trucking companies, and logistics providers remains a fundamental part of cargo movement. For more developments in global shipping, freight operations, and logistics technology, explore FreightGraph.