Port of Los Angeles logs second-busiest July ever amid tariff chaos and Iran-linked shipping snarls

The Port of Los Angeles capped its second-busiest July on record in 2026, handling 960,464 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) as importers scrambled to outmaneuver global supply chain disruptions and shifting U.S. tariff policies. The port’s July tally landed 8% below the all-time July record set in 2025, yet remained 6% above the five-year average for the month. Import containers totaled 499,552 TEUs—up 6% versus the five-year norm—while loaded exports slipped 8% year-over-year to 111,776 TEUs and empty containers dipped 2% to 349,137 TEUs. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka told reporters on August 18 that businesses are exploiting any window of opportunity in an evolving trade landscape. The surge follows last year’s pre-tariff rush, when importers front-loaded cargo ahead of an early-August deadline for country-specific tariffs later struck down by the Supreme Court in February. Since then, the Trump administration has rolled out fresh duties under more legally durable authorities such as Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Elevated freight costs tied to the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz are compounding pressures, while congestion at the Panama Canal is stretching crossing wait times from a few days to as long as three weeks—risks that El Niño-driven weather is expected to exacerbate. The National Retail Federation, citing its Global Port Tracker, now forecasts strong August import volumes nationwide before a 2026 slowdown as retailers adjust to tariff changes and Iran-related shipping disruptions.