Although it was a tale of two ports in June, the overall tariff effect seems to be continuing to reduce cargo activity in the San Pedro Bay.

On one hand, the Port of Los Angeles set its all-time June record with 892,340 containers moved by dockworkers. On the other, the Port of Long Beach saw a 16.4% slump with 704,403 containers moved.

Overall, the pair combined to move a bit less than 1.6 million containers – a 4.4% dip from June 2024. This follows a 6.4% year-over-year drop recorded in May. With the Trump Administration now signaling its willingness to further increase tariffs on trading partners, executives at the ports are predicting July will be the peak month of the year.

“Some importers are bringing in year-end holiday cargo now ahead of potential higher tariffs later in the year,” said Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka at his monthly media briefing. “July may be our peak season month as retailers and manufacturers bring orders in earlier than usual, then brace for trade uncertainty.”

Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Mario Cordero added: “The Port of Long Beach is prepared to handle the influx by tracking trade moving through the harbor with the Supply Chain Information Highway, our digital solution to maximize visibility and efficiency in cargo movement.”

Through the first six months of the year, the Port of L.A. is up by about 5% in container movement on the year, while the Port of Long Beach is up by about 10%.

Cargo breakdown

The import numbers largely mirrored the overall count.

Dockworkers at the Port of L.A. moved 470,450 loaded import containers in June, a year-over-year gain by about 52,000 and a reversal of the prior month’s loss. Meanwhile, those in Long Beach moved 348,681 loaded imports, a nearly 17% year-over-year decline.

Loaded exports – at 126,144 containers and 87,627 containers for L.A. and Long Beach, respectively – represented a year-over-year decline of about 7,000 containers collectively.

The remaining sum of containers is represented by empties moving in either direction.

In a typical year, so-called “peak season” in shipping – when manufacturers are filling orders by retailers to stock up ahead of back-to-school season and the winter holidays – rides a wave lasting through the fall months. Experts are forecasting an abridged peak season thanks to the sclerotic application and pausing of President Donald Trump’s tariffs against geopolitical rivals such as China and even historical allies like Mexico and the European Union.

Strong dwell times

The good news continued with cargo dwell times – the period in which offloaded cargo remains on a terminal before being loaded on trucks or railcars to leave the ports.

Truck-bound cargo waited about 2.55 days before being loaded in June, an improvement by about half a day from May and a quarter of a day from the June 2024. Meanwhile, rail-bound cargo had average dwell times of 3.29 days – an improvement by about 1.5 days from both May and the prior June. Rail dwell times were at their quickest since December 2021.

“These trends demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of port operations, even amid shifting trade patterns,” said Natasha Villa, external affairs manager of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “This highlights the coordinated efforts of terminal operators, railroads, and trucking partners to keep cargo flowing efficiently through the San Pedro Bay port complex.”