Port of Long Beach had record year in 2025 despite trade turmoil

The two Los Angeles ports that dominate US container shipping had a bumper year in 2025, even amid the tumult of President Donald Trump’s trade policy.

The Port of Long Beach had its busiest year ever, moving 9.9 million container units, Chief Executive Officer Noel Hacegaba said Thursday. The increase in volumes was partly driven by “the front-loading of cargo by importers wanting to get ahead of new tariffs,” he said.

US imports soared to a record early this year, after Trump’s election on a protectionist platform spurred businesses to rush goods into the country before they got taxed. The numbers have subsequently come back down, without dropping much below the previous year’s levels.


The nearby Port of Los Angeles handled 10.2 million units last year — the third-most on record — and topped the national rankings of the busiest ports for the 23rd year in a row. In December, its dockworkers moved 791,587 units, including loaded imports, exports and empty containers, according to data provided by the port.

Hacegaba said retaliatory tariffs by other countries had depressed exports of key US commodities such as soybeans through the Long Beach port, and noted other shifts in global trade patterns.

“Six years ago, about 70% of all our cargo – imports and exports – was tied to China,” he said in prepared remarks. “Today, that’s down to 60%. As a result, we are seeing more cargo come from Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia.”

US tariff rates steadied in the later months of 2025, as Trump dialed back some of the biggest increases. There remains considerable uncertainty about the administration’s trade policy — including whether the Supreme Court will reverse part of it.

Still, Hacegaba said the port’s projections suggest that 2026 will rank among Long Beach’s top five years for cargo volumes.