Port of Long Beach Reports Downturn in June
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
Cargo slowed at the Port of Long Beach last month but officials said they expect a bounceback in July because of the ongoing pause on tariffs.
In June, cargo was down 16.4% — with 704,403 20-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs, processed at the Port of Long Beach — compared to the same month last year.
Specifically, imports declined 16.9% to 348,681 TEUs and exports dropped 10.9% to 87,627 TEUs compared to June 2024.
Empty containers moving through the port also decreased, by 17.4% to 268,095 TEUs.
Cargo moving through the slowed in June, but a pause on tariffs could drive a rebound for trade in July. Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 704,403 TEUs in June, down 16.4% from the same month last year. Read more on our website: — Port of Long Beach (@portoflongbeach)
Port officials, though, said July 16 that they believe those numbers may rebound a bit, reflecting the recent pause on tariffs and the anticipation of stores preparing for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.
“We’re anticipating a cargo surge in July,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said, “as retailers stock up on goods ordered during the 90-day pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs.”
ǰ
The 90-day pause going back to the spring has been the subject of several adjustments by the Trump administration in recent weeks.
The port is prepared to handle the possible influx, Cordero said in a statement, assisted through its digital tracking system, the Supply Chain Information Highway, which maximizes visibility of cargo as it moves through the system.
Long Beach harbor commission president Bonnie Lowenthal also said dockworkers and marine terminal operators stand prepared to handle the fluctuating cargo.
“Over the long term,” she added, “we’re investing in infrastructure projects to keep cargo moving efficiently and sustainably to preserve our status as the ‘Port of Choice.’ ”
That includes ambitious on-dock rail projects and the port’s ongoing push toward a full “green” transition.
Earlier this week, the Port of Los Angeles reported that its June numbers were up 8% compared to the same month last year. It was the busiest June in the port’s 117-year history, with a total of 892,340 TEUs.
In June 2025, Ports reported continued progress in cargo fluidity, with rail dwell times dropping to 3.29 days, the best in over three years. Truck dwell times also held steady at 2.55 days. Read the full update: — PMSAship (@PMSAship)
The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, meanwhile, also reported on July 16 that June dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continued to reflect consistent performance across both truck and rail movements despite the ongoing instability of cargo volumes.
Rail-destined cargo dwell times, the association reported, improved significantly in June, dropping to 3.29 days. That represented the lowest average recorded rail dwell time since December 2021, the group said, reflecting improved inland cargo movement and greater supply chain velocity.
The previous month reported a 4.70-day dwell time, which was a 30% decrease compared to the same time the previous year and reflected better coordination between marine terminals and rail operators, PMSA said.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
Local truck dwell times also held steady, the PMSA report said, averaging 2.55 days, which was a “modest improvement” and “underscores adequate trucking capacity and sustained efficiency at the nation’s busiest port complex.”
“June’s dwell time performance is a milestone worth highlighting,” said Natasha Villa, external affairs manager of the Pacific Shipping Association, which represents owners and operators of marine terminals, ocean carriers and vessels operating on the West Coast. “Not only did rail dwell time drop to its lowest level in years, but local truck dwell times also continued their steady improvement.”
The trends, she said, reflect a coordinated effort of terminal operators, railroads and trucking in moving cargo within the twin-port complex.
