• Container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles fell 12% in January 2026, driven by a 13% decline in imports to 422,000 TEUs.
  • The drop reflects normalization after the 2025 pre-tariff rush, with cautious restocking amid ongoing trade policy uncertainty.
  • The National Retail Federation expects imports to remain slow in the first half of 2026, highlighting continued volatility in maritime supply chains.

Container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest marine gateway in the United States for 26 consecutive years, declined significantly in January 2026, with imports falling approximately 13% to 422,000 TEUs compared to the previous year. Exports dropped 8%, and empty containers declined 12.5%, according to port data. Port Director Gene Seroka attributed the downturn to the "pre-tariff rush" of 2024-2025, when shippers frontloaded goods ahead of President Trump's tariffs on key trade partners, combined with cautious restocking patterns as businesses adjusted to new trade policies.

Efforts to stabilize trade flows have hit a snag, with container traffic through the first four weeks of 2026 down 2.2% compared to the same period in 2025. "Shifting trade policies are creating uncertainty and volatility, and the maritime supply chain is at the center of it all," Seroka said in a recent statement, emphasizing the port's need to adapt. The National Retail Federation expects container imports to remain slow throughout the first half of 2026 due to continued tariff uncertainty, according to people familiar with the matter.

Without a clear resolution to trade tensions, businesses across California struggle to keep up with ever-changing policies, creating operational planning challenges. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach combined account for one out of every nine jobs in five Southern California counties, meaning the traffic decline could have implications for regional employment in logistics and supporting industries. In 2025, the port handled 10.2 million container units, marking the third-best year in its 118-year history, but the January drop signals a shift from last year's volatility.

Looking ahead, the port is pursuing infrastructure expansion projects, including evaluation of a new Pier 500 marine container terminal and efforts to raise the Vincent Thomas Bridge to accommodate larger container ships. Seroka outlined these strategic investments at the 2026 State of the Port address in January, stating the port "must be ready for whatever is coming." Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach announced plans to double its cargo capacity by 2050, indicating industry-wide preparation for long-term growth despite current headwinds.

In a related development, the Port of Los Angeles achieved the lowest emissions on a per-container basis of any port in the world, moving more cargo with record-low pollution footprints. Attempts to reach additional port officials for comment on the January figures were unsuccessful. This story may be updated as more data becomes available.