In July 2026, the Port of Long Beach handled 928,000 TEU, marking its fourth-highest monthly throughput and reinforcing its key role in U.S. trade.
The Port of Long Beach recorded container throughput of 928,000 TEU in July 2026, marking the fourth-highest monthly performance in the port's 115-year operating history and the second-busiest July on record - a result that underscores the port's enduring position as a principal gateway on the United States West Coast.
Examining the underlying data, import loaded containers declined marginally by 0.1% year-on-year to 467,000 TEU, holding broadly in line with the prior corresponding period. Export loaded containers advanced 14.8% to 105,000 TEU, representing the month's most notable outbound performance, while empty containers registered a 7.4% year-on-year decrease to 356,000 TEU.
Addressing media at a scheduled briefing, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Dr. Noel Hacegaba noted that despite a modest year-on-year decline, July volumes remained at historically elevated levels - a reflection of the port's continued strategic relevance as the pre-eminent entry point for trans-Pacific trade into the United States.
Industry analysts have observed that American consumer spending has demonstrated a resilience that continues to outpace expectations, even as inflationary pressures and rising prices weigh on household budgets. The National Retail Federation's latest projections indicate that the 2026 peak shipping season for US-bound trade is approaching its conclusion, with August import volumes at major US ports anticipated to remain strong before moderating through the balance of the year. Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett noted that sustained cost-of-living pressures may temper consumer expenditure in the months ahead, though aggregate demand has displayed a degree of durability even against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical uncertainty.
For the first seven months of 2026, the Port of Long Beach recorded cumulative container throughput of 5.758 million TEU, an increase of 1.2% year-on-year - affirming the port's trajectory of measured, sustained growth as it continues to strengthen its role at the forefront of global trade.
