- The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are witnessing the largest influx of Chinese shipments since January 2025, as importers rush to beat the August 12 tariff deadline.
- While an increase in vessel arrivals is noted, port authorities emphasize that capacity and operations remain stable, with no concerns of congestion.
- Officials anticipate a short-term uptick in cargo volumes but not a sustained surge, amid continued uncertainty surrounding U.S.-China trade negotiations.
A new wave of ocean freight from China is reaching the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as shippers aim to beat the potential tariff hikes tied to President Trump’s August 12 trade deal deadline. According to tracking by the Marine Exchange of Southern California and the Coast Guard, ship arrivals have surged in recent days: 64 on Friday, 68 on Saturday, and 64 on Sunday, according to CNBC.
“This is a pretty solid forecast of an increase in container ship arrivals in the next one to two weeks,” said Captain J. Kipling (Kip) Louttit, executive director of MX SoCal. He noted it’s the highest container ship arrival forecast since January 2025.
Terminal Capacity and Operational Outlook
Despite the increase, port officials have stopped short of calling it a surge. The wave follows several weeks of increased ocean freight bookings, but overall booking orders have since declined. Terminals at both ports are currently operating below peak capacity. The Port of Long Beach is at around 60%, while the Port of Los Angeles is at 70%.
“We’ve been coordinating closely with terminal operators, labor, and our other partners to ensure they have what they need as we look forward to increased cargo flow. We welcome the additional cargo and look forward to a resolution of the trade policy issues that have led to so much uncertainty for shippers,” said Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach.
Canceled sailings at Long Beach are also trending down, dropping from 18 in June to only 4 projected for July and August combined.
Port of Los Angeles Ready to Handle Flow
Gene Seroka, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles, noted in the port’s monthly container update that July arrivals may show signs of peak season orders. However, he cautioned, “retailers are not telling me that they’re boosting inventory levels to have wide selections on products beginning that Thanksgiving week and running to the end of the year. So I’m not seeing that either.”
Seroka added that cargo levels at the Port of Los Angeles remain below normal for June, with current dock volumes at less than 30% of the Covid peak. “We’ve got plenty of room to manage the cargo,” he said.
Industry Impact and Labor Boost
The incoming full vessels are expected to benefit the broader supply chain — including trucking, rail, and warehouse firms — which earn revenue per load. Seroka also told CNBC that the recent uptick has had a positive labor impact: “has put more people back to work on our docks.”
Still, he warned that “there are looming trade negotiation deadlines in July and August that will impact volume forecasts for the remainder of the year.”
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Source: CNBC
