Port of Los Angeles May Volumes Jump 17% as Shippers Frontload Ahead of Tariff Deadlines and Fuel Cost Increases, But Window of Stability Remains Narrow

The Port of Los Angeles processed 840,165 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in May 2026, a 17% increase compared to the same month last year — the strongest year-on-year performance in months, driven by a combination of inventory replenishment, tariff-related frontloading, and preparation for the upcoming retail season. Through the first five months of 2026, the port has handled 4,119,869 TEUs, placing it 1.4% ahead of the equivalent period in 2025.
May 2026 loaded imports totalled 449,370 TEUs, a 26% year-on-year increase — though the comparison was aided by softer import volumes in May 2025, when many cargo owners temporarily paused shipments amid changing tariff policies. Loaded exports came in at 107,657 TEUs, 10% lower than last year. Empty containers totalled 283,138 TEUs, 18% above May 2025. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka described the strong performance as reflecting "the resilience of the American consumer and the ability of businesses to adapt in a continuously changing environment," adding that companies are "operating with shorter planning horizons and taking advantage of opportunities when they emerge."
Contributing factors to the surge include concerns about rising fuel costs, with contracted shippers expecting up to an 80% jump in third-quarter bunker adjustment factors when new quarterly BAFs take effect in July, and potential price increases from Far East manufacturers due to higher input costs. The National Retail Federation's US ocean import volume report projects that June volumes will climb a further 5% compared to May arrivals, before imports ease by 3% in July and continue to cool through September — suggesting that much of the current demand surge represents borrowed volume from the second half of the year. Seroka noted that while cargo remains steady, comparisons this summer will continue to be skewed against elevated 2025 volumes driven by tariff-related frontloading.