Port of Long Beach sees strong start for 2025

Potential tariff increases drive trade for busiest January on record

The Port of Long Beach started the new year with its strongest January on record and its second-busiest month ever, largely driven by retailers moving cargo ahead of the anticipated tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 952,733 twenty-foot equivalent units in January, up 41.4% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record, set in January 2022, by 18.9%. Imports jumped 45% to 471,649 TEUs and exports rose 14% to 98,655 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port climbed 45.9% to 382,430 TEUs.

“It’s encouraging to start off the year so strongly. As we head into 2025, I thank and congratulate all of our partners for their hard work,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We will continue to focus on enhancing both our competitiveness and sustainability, no matter the uncertainties in the supply chain.”

“Our longshore labor, marine terminal operators and industry partners continue to move a record amount of cargo to make this the premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “We’re heading into 2025 with a positive focus on our efforts to deliver top-notch customer service while growing sustainably.”

The strong start to 2025 marks the Port’s eighth consecutive monthly year-over-year cargo increase and follows a record-breaking year with 9,649,724 TEUs moved in 2024.

For complete cargo numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at more than $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California. In 2025, the Port is celebrating “20 Years of Leading Green,” marking two decades of its landmark Green Port Policy that has dramatically reduced environmental impacts from operations. In 2024, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the sixth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.3 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.