The Port of Los Angeles is bracing for a sharp 35% drop in cargo from Asia next week, largely due to major U.S. retailers halting shipments from China in response to tariffs, according to the Port’s Executive Director, Gene Seroka.
As reported by Reuters, Seroka noted that unless a trade agreement or framework is reached with China, shipments from the country, aside from select commodities, will remain minimal. These shipments typically account for about 45% of the port’s traffic.He also reaffirmed his forecast that imports at the port could decline by at least 10% in the second half of 2025.
The ports of Los Angeles and neighboring Long Beach are especially vulnerable in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict, as they serve as primary entry points for Chinese goods, the top source of U.S. imports.
Drewry has forecasted a 1% decline in global container port volume, attributing the drop to U.S. trade policies and tariffs. As reported by Reuters, this would mark the third fall in global container shipping demand since Drewry began recording data in 1979, following declines of 8.4% in 2009 during the global financial crisis and 0.9% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
