The Port of Long Beach has emerged as the busiest container port in the United States for the first quarter of 2025, achieving historic cargo volumes ahead of what experts warn could be a sharp decline later in the year.
In March alone, dockworkers processed 817,457 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — a 25% increase from March 2024 and the busiest March on record for the port. This growth was largely fueled by a 25.8% surge in imports, totaling 380,562 TEUs, while exports saw a slight 1% decline.
Outpacing Los Angeles for the First Time in Years
For the first time in recent memory, Long Beach has overtaken its longtime neighbor and rival, the Port of Los Angeles, within the San Pedro Bay Port Complex. Long Beach handled 2,535,575 TEUs in Q1 2025, a 26.6% year-over-year increase, compared to Los Angeles’ 2,504,049 TEUs — a difference of just under 32,000 TEUs.
Storm Clouds Ahead: NRF Warns of Steep Decline
Despite the strong start to 2025, industry experts are sounding alarms. The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts that U.S. container imports will face a sharp 20% drop beginning May 2025, ending a 19-month streak of year-over-year growth. According to the NRF’s Global Port Tracker, this downturn could lead to a 15% decline in total annual cargo volumes by year-end.
The anticipated contraction is attributed to importers frontloading cargo ahead of expected tariffs, economic uncertainty, and shifting consumer demand in the face of rising prices.
While the Port of Long Beach is celebrating its current momentum, the second half of 2025 may present significant operational and economic challenges. How the port adapts to this potential downturn could shape its competitive standing for years to come.
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Source: gCaptain
