The Port of Long Beach, following a record-breaking first quarter, ranked as the US's busiest port in the first three months of the year, driven by a surge in imports ahead of anticipated tariffs.

Dockworkers and terminal operators at the port moved 817,457 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 25% from March 2024.

Imports grew 25.8% to 380,562 TEUs and exports decreased 1% to 104,063 TEUs.

Port of Long Beach noted that empty containers moving through the port rose 35% to 332,832 TEUs.

March also marked the port's 10th consecutive monthly year-over-year cargo increase.

"We are leading the way as the nation's busiest port by ensuring the fastest, most efficient delivery of cargo from our docks to anywhere in the United States," said Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach.

"Our investments in state-of-the-art, modern facilities allow us to move record amounts of cargo with maximum efficiency as we continue to deliver the highest standard of customer service," he added.

The Port has moved 2,535,575 TEUs during the first quarter of 2025, a 26.6% increase from the same period in 2024.

Busiest first half on record

Port of Long Beach also saw its busiest first half of any fiscal year on record, with 5,267,926 TEUs moved since October 1, making it the nation's busiest port for the last six months.

In 2024, the Port of Long Beach was the nation's second-busiest seaport with 9.6 million TEUs processed, and its San Pedro Bay neighbor, the Port of Los Angeles, was No. 1, with 10.3 million TEUs.