The Port of Long Beach saw a 14.9% decrease in October, although, despite this negative scenario, the second largest port complex in the United States maintains figures above the accumulated record for the same ten months compared to 2024.
The favorable record has occurred, primarily, because retailers placed their orders in advance and stocked their warehouses before the reciprocal tariffs were implemented.
In a virtual press conference, the CEO of the Port of Long Beach, Mario Cordero, and the Chief Operating Officer, Noel Hacegaba, pointed out that, while changes in trade policies have generated uncertainty among consumers and the supply chain, cargo continues to move smoothly in the second busiest port in the United States.
Looking ahead to the holiday shopping season, Cordero indicated that a very active Black Friday is anticipated, but that consumers are likely to be cautious with their purchases due to price increases.
“The consumer has not perceived a significant impact from the tariffs, given that manufacturers, retailers, and other players have shared some of these costs and mitigated the price increase for the consumer, but this could change as we approach 2026,” stated Cordero.
“Consumers are likely to see a price increase in the coming months, as carriers continue to pass on the cost of the tariffs to the goods and a greater percentage of these costs will be passed on to the consumer,” he added.
“Even amid the country’s longest government shutdown, cargo continues to flow without setbacks through our port and throughout the national supply chain,” declared Hacegaba.
“We continue to coordinate closely with all our partners to anticipate and mitigate issues before they arise, in order to keep cargo and our economy moving,” he added.
“Our dedicated staff and terminal operators work hard to ensure that store shelves are stocked and that shoppers can acquire gifts for the holidays,” stated Frank Colonna, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.
“We plan to continue providing exceptional customer service and building a sustainable future for the next year,” he expanded.
Longshoremen and terminal operators moved 839,671 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo containers last month, 14.9% less than in October 2024, which remains the busiest month in the port’s 114-year history.
Imports decreased by 17.6% to 401,915 TEUs and exports by 11.5% to 99,817 TEUs. The movement of empty containers through the port decreased by 12.6%, to 337,940 TEUs.
Through October, the port has moved 8,229,916 TEUs, 4.1% more than in the same period the previous year.
