Photo courtesy Port of Long Beach<\/p>\n
Port of Long Beach Outpaces Rivals as Tariffs and War Risks Cloud Outlook<\/p>\n
emerged as the busiest seaport in the United States through the first quarter of 2026, even as cargo volumes eased from last year\u2019s record pace and global supply chain risks continue to build.<\/p>\n
Dockworkers and terminal operators at Long Beach handled 774,935 TEUs in March, down 5.2% compared to the same month in 2025. The decline comes against a strong baseline, with last year marking a record period for cargo movement at the port.<\/p>\n
Imports slipped 1.6% to 374,412 TEUs, while exports edged up 0.5% to 104,554 TEUs. Empty containers saw the sharpest drop, falling 11.1% to 295,970 TEUs.<\/p>\n
Through March, the port processed 2,390,225 TEUs, a 5.7% decrease from the first quarter of 2025\u2014but still enough to lead all U.S. ports.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile not our strongest month on record, we handled nearly 775,000 TEUs, making us the busiest gateway in North America,\u201d said Port of Long Beach CEO\u00a0Noel Hacegaba\u00a0during the port\u2019s monthly media briefing.<\/p>\n
Despite escalating tensions in the Middle East and severe disruption to shipping through the\u00a0Strait of Hormuz, Long Beach has yet to see a direct impact on container volumes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite these global pressures, the conflict has not yet reduced cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach,\u201d Hacegaba said.<\/p>\n
Instead, he pointed to tariffs, shifting shipment timing, and comparisons to last year\u2019s surge as the primary drivers behind the modest decline.<\/p>\n
But the port is watching developments closely. \u201cWhen ships are being rerouted to avoid conflict zones, it sets off a chain reaction,\u201d Hacegaba said. \u201cCargo has to move differently. Routes get longer. Costs go up. And ultimately, consumers pay more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the channel, the\u00a0Port of Los Angeles\u00a0is<\/p>\n
tracking a similar pattern<\/p>\n
. The port handled 752,520 TEUs in March, down 3% year-over-year, bringing first-quarter volumes to 2,388,843 TEUs\u2014essentially in line with its five-year average.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with the seasonal slowdown tied to Lunar New Year, cargo flow in March was solid,\u201d said Executive Director\u00a0Gene Seroka, who pointed to tariff uncertainty, inflation, and rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict as key headwinds shaping cargo flows.<\/p>\n
Costs Rising Across the Supply Chain<\/p>\n
Those pressures are already beginning to show. Higher fuel costs tied to the conflict are feeding into new surcharges and operational changes across the supply chain. Retailers, according to port officials, are adjusting in quieter ways, such as reducing discounts, raising free-shipping thresholds, and stretching delivery timelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens in the supply chain doesn\u2019t stay in the supply chain,\u201d Hacegaba said. \u201cIt shows up in the prices people pay every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The uncertainty comes even as a tentative ceasefire has been announced in the region while the U.S.<\/p>\n
enforces a maritime blockade<\/p>\n
of ships traveling to and from Iran.<\/p>\n
Energy Shift Gains Momentum<\/p>\n
Long Beach is also positioning itself for longer-term changes in energy and infrastructure. The port marked the four-year anniversary of its Clean Truck Fund Rate, which has generated more than $62 million since 2022 to support the transition to zero-emissions drayage trucks and related infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Officials say the program is part of a broader push that includes investments in zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment, clean shipping corridors, and offshore wind development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is how we turn policy into progress,\u201d Hacegaba said.<\/p>\n
The port is also advancing plans for its proposed<\/p>\n
aimed at supporting the growing offshore wind sector along the U.S. West Coast.<\/p>\n