The Port of Los Angeles reported a sharp 19% drop in import volumes for May 2025, processing approximately 356,000 loaded inbound containers—a notable decline from April and 9% lower than May 2024, according to Executive Director Gene Seroka.
The total throughput in May stood at an estimated 717,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), signaling a shift in trade patterns just as port officials brace for a potentially weaker second half of the year. While the first quarter of 2025 started strong—with volumes 5.2% ahead of 2024—the latest numbers point to softening demand and mounting pressure from global tariff policies.
Gene Seroka, addressing media last week, attributed the May dip to “frontloading” earlier in the year and residual impacts from high volumes in 2024. “We saw super big numbers last year, as shippers rushed cargo in anticipation of labor disruptions,” he explained. “Now we’re seeing that play out with some softness in the market.”
Seasonal Swings and Tariff Headwinds
Seasonality has played a major role in container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest container port. July 2024 recorded a staggering 939,600 TEUs—the port’s busiest month in over two years—fueled by early holiday imports and a surge in consumer goods. But the frontloading trend, where retailers bring in goods earlier to avoid peak-season risks, has led to uneven volume distribution across 2025.
In April 2025, loaded imports reached 439,230 TEUs, a 5% rise year-over-year. Yet by May, those figures slipped to 356,000—a stark month-over-month contraction. At the same time, empty containers dropped 12% year-over-year to 236,268 units, suggesting that carriers are adjusting their repositioning strategies as trade flows shift.
Loaded exports in May posted at 125,963 TEUs, marking the fifth straight month of year-over-year declines. The cumulative export total for 2025 has remained below 2024 levels, with a 3.5% dip in May alone.
Exporters Face Retaliatory Tariffs and Sluggish Demand
U.S. exporters—particularly those in agriculture and manufacturing—are facing increasing difficulty navigating international markets. The continued application of retaliatory tariffs by key trading partners has weighed heavily on outbound cargo. In March 2025, loaded exports plunged by 15% to 122,975 TEUs, and although April saw a slight recovery, the longer-term outlook remains challenging.
Port officials have been candid about the export strain. “With retaliatory tariffs now in play, we expect headwinds to persist well into the second half of the year,” noted one official. “The cumulative impact on farmers, machinery manufacturers, and small industrial producers is becoming more evident each month.”
This trend is particularly concerning given that exports had shown signs of revival in late 2024. Now, weakened overseas demand, shifting currency values, and global political friction are pushing more U.S. shippers to seek alternative strategies, including shifting volumes to Gulf and East Coast ports with more favorable trade conditions.
Industry Watches June and July Volumes Closely
While the Port of Los Angeles maintains its long-term role as a critical trade gateway, logistics professionals and freight analysts are closely monitoring the next two months for signs of a rebound. Traditionally, June and July mark a ramp-up in back-to-school and early holiday goods.
Still, with port officials forecasting a potential 10% decline in second-half volumes compared to last year, expectations remain tempered. As tariff policies evolve and global economic uncertainty lingers, importers and exporters alike are reevaluating inventory strategies and supply chain timelines.
The May figures place Port of Los Angeles at the top of the list for volume declines among major U.S. gateways for the month. Compared to April 2024, the port saw a 6.3% drop or 26,399 fewer TEUs—a significant swing that underscores the volatility still embedded in global container shipping.
Source: Port of Los Angeles
