Port of LA Sees January Cargo Volume Dip

Cargo processing at the San Pedro facility declined 12% compared to last year.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Port of Los Angeles processed 812,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, a 12% decrease compared to the same period last year. Loaded imports fell 13% to 421,594 TEUs, while loaded exports dropped 8% to 104,297 TEUs. The port also handled 286,110 empty container units, a 12% decrease.

Why it matters

The decline in cargo volume at the Port of Los Angeles, a major economic driver for the region, reflects broader trends in international trade and the U.S. economy. Factors like higher inventories, cautious restocking, and ongoing trade policy uncertainty are impacting cargo flows through the port.

The details

According to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, the January cargo decline is due to several factors. First, the numbers are being compared to elevated 2025 levels when importers were rushing to get cargo in ahead of tariffs. Second, inventories remain slightly higher, reflecting the earlier cargo surge and a more cautious restocking pace. Finally, ongoing U.S. trade policy is keeping everyone on edge, though the American consumer has shown resilience and purchase orders to Asia look stable.

  • The Port of Los Angeles processed 812,000 TEUs in January 2026.
  • This represents a 12% decrease compared to January 2025.

The players

Gene Seroka

Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles.

Chad Bown

Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

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What they’re saying

“First, we're comparing January to 2025 elevated numbers when importers were scrambling to get cargo in ahead of tariffs. Second, inventories remain slightly higher, reflecting the earlier cargo surge and a more cautious restocking pace.”

— Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles (nbclosangeles.com)

“If you impose a 25% tariff on a good coming in, the effect of that 25% is being paid by someone in the United States. ...The evidence so far, at least through, say, the first eight or nine months of 2025 is that almost 100% of the tariffs are being paid by somebody in the United States.”

— Chad Bown, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics (nbclosangeles.com)

What’s next

Upcoming developments that could influence the economy and trade include a review of the U.S. Mexico-Canada Agreement, potential meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision related to international trade.

The takeaway

The decline in cargo volume at the Port of Los Angeles reflects broader economic and trade policy uncertainties, with factors like higher inventories, cautious restocking, and ongoing trade tensions impacting cargo flows through the critical regional hub.