- Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach both set all-time July records, driven by importers rushing cargo ahead of tariff hikes.
- U.S. container imports in July 2025 hit their second-highest level on record, with Chinese shipments surging 44.4% month-over-month.
- Industry forecasts warn of a sharp downturn in the second half of 2025, with volumes projected to fall nearly 14% compared to the first half.
July 2025 marked the busiest month in the Port of Los Angeles’ 117-year history, with throughput surpassing 1 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Retailers and manufacturers accelerated shipments to get ahead of impending tariff hikes, creating a surge in activity. Executive Director Gene Seroka credited the port’s smooth operations to the coordinated efforts of longshore workers, terminal and rail operators, truckers, and supply chain partners.
The port handled 543,728 TEUs in loaded imports—an 8% increase over last year and the highest monthly import total ever recorded. Loaded exports reached 121,507 TEUs, up 6% year-on-year, while empty containers rose 10% to 354,602 TEUs. By the end of July, total 2025 throughput reached 5,975,649 TEUs, 5% higher than the same period in 2024, according to gCaptain.
Long Beach Also Sets New Benchmark
Neighboring Port of Long Beach posted its most active July ever and the third-busiest month in its 114-year history, handling 944,232 TEUs—7% above last year’s record. CEO Mario Cordero noted that much of this volume reflected goods purchased earlier in the year at lower costs during a temporary tariff pause. However, he cautioned that the port’s tracking systems point to a potential 10% decline in the second half of 2025, flattening annual totals.
National Surge Driven by China Imports
According to Descartes Systems Group, July U.S. container imports totaled 2,621,910 TEUs—the second-highest monthly figure on record—up 18.2% from June. Imports from China surged 44.4% month-over-month to 923,075 TEUs, boosting China’s share of total U.S. imports from 28.8% in June to 35.2% in July.
Sharp Decline Expected in the Second Half of 2025
Despite the record-setting summer, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates project a 5.6% drop in overall U.S. container volume for 2025 compared to last year. This implies a steep 13.9% decline in the second half of the year, with particularly sharp year-on-year decreases forecast for the peak shipping months of September through December. November’s anticipated 1.71 million TEUs would be the lowest monthly total since April 2023.
Tariffs and Policy Shifts Fuel Uncertainty
Industry leaders warn that newly implemented and forthcoming tariffs—along with policy shifts such as the repeal of the de minimis exemption on August 29 and the expiration of the U.S.-China tariff truce on October 15—are disrupting trade flows. Hackett Associates’ Ben Hackett described the tariff environment as inconsistent and destabilizing, with importers rushing to frontload shipments before new duties take effect.
Analyst John McCown underscored the broader economic risks, noting that steep declines in containerized imports will likely dampen growth and drive inflation. With the U.S. annually importing $1.5 trillion in goods by container, reduced volumes and higher costs could ripple across the economy well into 2026.
From Peak to Precarity
While West Coast ports celebrate unprecedented summer highs, the shipping industry faces one of the most abrupt year-to-year reversals in the six decades of containerized trade. The record-breaking volumes of July may soon give way to a challenging end-of-year downturn shaped by trade disputes, shifting policies, and global market uncertainty.
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Source: gCaptain
