Cargo traffic at the Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) dipped 3% in March compared with a year earlier, as officials attributed the slight decline to last year's tariff‑driven front‑loading and the timing of the Lunar New Year. 

Port of LA handled 752,520 TEUs in March, as last year's tariff‑driven front‑loading and this year's Lunar New Year slowdown weighed on volumes.

First‑quarter throughput reached 2.39 million TEUs, roughly in line with the port’s five‑year average.

"Even with the seasonal slowdown tied to Lunar New Year, cargo flow in March was solid and our first quarter performance was consistent with our five-year trend," Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said.

"In today's uncertain environment, consistency matters – and we're staying ahead of things so our waterfront workers and partners can continue to deliver reliable, efficient operations for our customers," he added.

Seroka said unsettled tariff policy, inflationary pressures and the broader economic effects of conflict in the Middle East — particularly higher fuel prices — continue to affect consumer behavior and business planning.

In March, loaded imports totaled 380,733 TEUs, down 1% from a year earlier. Loaded exports rose 7% to 132,129 TEUs, the highest outbound total since May 2024. Empty containers fell 11% to 239,658 TEUs.

Port of LA handled 10.2 million TEUs and generated US$301 billion in trade in 2025. Port officials say they remain focused on infrastructure upgrades, environmental initiatives and workforce development across the San Pedro Bay complex,