Port of LA posts solid Q1

The Port of Los Angeles moved 752,520 container units in March and closed the first quarter at 2,388,843, matching its recent five-year pace. (portoflosangeles.org) The port said March volume was down 3% from a year earlier, when importers rushed cargo in ahead of higher tariffs. Executive Director Gene Seroka said the latest month also reflected the usual slowdown after Lunar New Year. (portoflosangeles.org) Loaded imports reached 380,733 twenty-foot equivalent units, down 1% from March 2025, while loaded exports rose 7% to 132,129, the highest outbound total since May 2024. Empty containers fell 11% to 239,658. (porttechnology.org) A twenty-foot equivalent unit is the shipping industry’s standard container count, so the monthly total is a proxy for how much cargo is moving through the country’s largest container gateway. The Port of Los Angeles says it is the No. 1 container port in North America. (portoflosangeles.org 1) (portoflosangeles.org 2) That keeps Los Angeles in focus as companies weigh tariff policy, consumer demand and shipping costs in 2026. Seroka said unsettled tariffs, inflation and higher fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict are weighing on businesses and shoppers. (worldportdevelopment.com) Exports drew particular attention because they had been weak through much of the past year. LAist reported the March increase was welcome news for U.S. businesses even as conflict-linked disruptions kept pressure on fuel and shipping markets. (laist.com) The port also underscored its economic footprint. Its latest facts and figures say the Port of Los Angeles generated more than $300 billion in trade in calendar year 2025. (portoflosangeles.org) The first quarter numbers do not signal a surge or a collapse. They show a port that entered April moving cargo at a level the harbor says is steady for Los Angeles. (portoflosangeles.org)