Port of Long Beach’s Hacegaba reports 10.6% increase in June

The Port of Long Beach reported a 10.6% increase in Year Over Year (YOY) cargo volume for the month of June 2026, according to Noel Hacegaba, CEO, Port of Long Beach.

In his media briefing on July 14^th, Hacegaba said June cargo volume totaled 779,331 TEUs, an increase of 10.6% over the same month in 2025 and reported the following breakdown for June 2026 compared to June 2025:

Imports = 387,025 TEUS +11%

Exports = 86,446 TEUS -1.3%

Empties= 305,860 TEUS +14.1%

The total cargo throughput for January to June 2026 was 4.83 million TEUs an increase of 1.7% over the same period for 2025

Uncertainties Continue

Hacegaba noted concerns by importers who have brought in goods ahead of the expiration of existing Trump administration tariffs: “On July 24, the temporary 10% tariffs will automatically be repealed, and it's not clear if another temporary policy will come in its place. Regardless of the outcome, the supply chain is already anticipating the worst-case scenario, and the activity on our docks reflects that anticipation. Our docks are busy as shippers’ front-load goods to get ahead of tariff disruption, triggering an early peak season. In fact, the National Retail Federation announced just last week that import volumes are projected to hit a new record at major container ports like ours.”

This has led to ocean carriers adding unscheduled services to meet the increase in demand: “Here in Long Beach, we're seeing ocean carriers add services to meet the demand. They're also bringing more unscheduled ships to the Port, known as extra loaders, to import more cargo and remove empty containers to clear the docks and create more space on our terminals. Our conversations with retailers, manufacturers, and cargo owners suggest businesses continue to diversify, source, adjust inventory strategies, and build flexibility into their supply chains. Rather than bet on a single policy outcome, businesses are preparing for volatility.”

Earlier Peak Season

Hacegaba noted that the result is peak season imports for the holidays are coming in earlier in the year to avoid possible tariff spikes: “Flexibility has become the supply chain's greatest competitive advantage, but it now signals peak season is no longer a season. It's a year-round strategy, making the traditional peak shopping season outdated and obsolete. It may be July, but for the supply chain, the holiday shipping season has already started. Retailers are intent on restocking shelves while keeping prices as low as possible, helping to drive the front-loading we're seeing right now. When it comes to seasonal goods that typically hit the market at certain times of the year, we are seeing those goods enter the U.S. market sooner. In fact, as I mentioned a moment ago, what typically characterized holiday peak season has been replaced by a year-long wave of cargo that comes in different spurts. But when it comes to the holiday peak season, when it comes to goods that typically hit the store shelves in October, November, and December, we started noticing those goods arrive as early as the spring. And we, based on our communications with cargo owners (and) with the ocean carriers, we will continue to see that through this month, possibly early August.”

Uptick In Intermodal Activity

Hacegaba noted that there has been an uptick in intermodal activity at the Port: “When it comes to intermodal, we have noticed an uptick in intermodal activity. In fact, that's one of the reasons why we continue to see growth through our gateway. Our ability to move more containers straight from a ship to the terminal and out to the hinterland on a train is what makes us more competitive and what offers more advantages to our customers. So, with the recent surge in cargo volumes, we've noticed an increase in intermodal activity. Currently, we're at about 28% of all the containers that arrive at our Port leave the Port terminals on a train. And that requires a lot of coordination and communication with our Class 1 partners. We are in touch with them almost daily, making sure that we have adequate equipment, making sure that there's coordination when it comes to pick up and drop offs, making sure that the terminals are communicating directly with the Class Ones. So, it's all hands on deck to make sure that we're moving those intermodal containers out of the Port as quickly as possible.”

SSA Gets Zero-Emission Tractors

Hacegaba noted that at the Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) Terminal's PIER C: “We celebrated 15 human-operated American-made zero-emission… tractors with charging infrastructure.”

In addition, the Port has added “a tugboat outfitted with one of the cleanest, low-emission engines available.”

California Secretary of Transportation Recognized

Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation, was recognized by Hacegaba for supporting new infrastructure grants to the Port: “It was an honor to make this announcement on social media with California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin. I want to thank him again for his support of California's $1.2 billion port and freight Infrastructure program, of which the Port of Long Beach received $383 million, a record amount ... The Port state-funded project is supporting 22,000 jobs, reducing emissions, and helping us to build a modern and sustainable port.”

AnchorLB

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson sought the Port’s support for a new office building acquisition in downtown Long Beach: “At my State of the City, we launched AnchorLB with a simple idea: The companies that power Long Beach should have a presence in the heart of Long Beach. I challenged Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba to help bring that vision to life. Today’s acquisition turns that vision into action. This new downtown hub will bring together industry, workforce development, and innovation, creating new opportunities for collaboration and helping strengthen the heart of our city.”

“A world-class port deserves a world-class business hub where industry leaders can work, meet, and collaborate in a central location,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “Bringing maritime businesses into downtown Long Beach will strengthen our connection to the community, spur economic activity for local businesses, and extend the benefits of trade beyond our waterfront.”

“This investment amplifies the impact Long Beach has on growing trade and building partnerships that reinforce our position as a premier international gateway,” Hacegaba said. “Building the Port of the Future relies on developing spaces for collaboration, innovation, and training the next generation of workers who will keep cargo moving efficiently and sustainably.”

As a partner to the Mayor’s AnchorLB initiative, the Port of Long Beach will acquire the property at 100 Oceangate, located near the Long Beach Civic Center. The property includes a 13-story building with 226,748 rentable square feet of office space and a five-level parking structure, according to a July 13^th Port of Long Beach announcement.

New Dredging Funds

On July 14^th, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) had passed out of committee, which would support the Port of Long Beach channel deepening project. This $255 million investment, split between the federal government and the Port of Long Beach, will expand the Port’s main channel, strengthen America’s supply chain, and reduce pollution from ships waiting to dock outside the harbor, the Congressman’s office said.