Port of Los Angeles Posts Busiest Month for Container Cargo in September

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday October 12, 2026

The Port of Los Angeles handled 1.04 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, its busiest month in its 118-year history.

The total was more than 20,000 TEUs above the previous monthly record set in July 2025, the Port of Los Angeles said in a press release on Friday.

Loaded imports rose 19% year on year to 545,696 TEUs, while loaded exports increased 10% to 125,751 TEUs.

Empty container volumes also reached a monthly record of approximately 371,206 TEUs.

The port handled nearly 3 million TEUs in the third quarter, its busiest quarter on record.

Volumes in the first nine months of 2026 reached nearly 8.1 million TEUs, up more than 3% from the same period last year.

“September was a month for the record books, and it was part of an extraordinary run for the Port of Los Angeles,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said.

“Consumer demand remains resilient, importers are replenishing inventories and more cargo is being allocated to Los Angeles as shippers navigate continued challenges along other global trade routes.”

Ship & Bunker News Team
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