Exports from Port of LA Plummet as US-China Trade Tensions Persist

Port executive says exports to China 'look dismal' as trade war continues to impact US exporters

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Exports from the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest U.S. gateway for ocean trade, fell 8% in January to the lowest monthly output in nearly three years, according to the port's executive director Gene Seroka. Seroka said 'exports to China look dismal' as the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China continues to hit American exporters hard, with soybean shipments from the port to China dropping 80% last year.

Why it matters

The Port of Los Angeles is a critical economic hub for the U.S., handling a significant portion of the country's imports and exports. The sharp decline in exports, particularly to China, highlights the significant impact the trade tensions between the two nations are having on American businesses and the broader economy.

The details

Exports from the Port of Los Angeles fell 8% in January to 104,297 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of loaded export containers, the lowest monthly output in nearly three years. Seroka said soybean shipments from the port to China dropped 80% last year, and the trade did not improve in November or December, even after discussions between representatives of the two nations. Trade expert Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute of Economics noted that outgoing U.S. shipments of everything from beef and corn to crude oil and coal also fell in 2025.

  • Exports from the Port of Los Angeles fell 8% in January 2026.
  • Soybean shipments from the Port of Los Angeles to China dropped 80% in 2025.

The players

Gene Seroka

Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest U.S. gateway for ocean trade.

Chad Bown

A senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of Economics and a trade expert.

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What they’re saying

“Exports to China look dismal.”

— Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles (Reuters)

“There's not much that the United States is exporting to China these days.”

— Chad Bown, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute of Economics (Reuters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The sharp decline in exports from the Port of Los Angeles, particularly to China, underscores the significant impact the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China are having on American businesses and the broader economy. This highlights the need for a resolution to the trade war in order to support U.S. exporters and the overall economic health of the country.