Tariff ‘whipsaw effect’ boosts June cargo to new record at Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles handled 892,340 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in June, 8% more than last year. It was the busiest June in the 117-year history of the Port of Los Angeles.

“Some importers are bringing in year-end holiday cargo now ahead of potential higher tariffs later in the year,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “July may be our peak season month as retailers and manufacturers bring orders in earlier than usual, then brace for trade uncertainty.

“Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles closed its fiscal year on June 30, ending the period handling 10.5 million TEUs,” Seroka added. “That marks our third fiscal year exceeding 10 million TEUs, the only Western Hemisphere port to do so. And this time we reached that mark without a single vessel backed up.”

Bobby Djavaheri, President of Yedi Houseware, a family-owned business in Los Angeles, joined Seroka for the briefing. Djavaheri discussed the impacts tariffs have had on small and mid-sized businesses.