Port Of Los Angeles Sets June Record

June traffic at the Port of Los Angeles surged to a record 892,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), up 32% from May. That boost pushed first-half volume about 5% above the same period in 2024. Gene Seroka, the port’s executive director, said the record high spotlights a ‘tariff whipsaw’ effect. Import taxes now swing on and off, adding volatility for shippers. Meanwhile, export containers ticked up to 126,000 TEUs and empty boxes rose to 296,000 TEUs.

Earlier in May, import flows slowed after the administration hiked duties on Chinese goods above 100%. Then mid-June’s truce with Beijing eased rates and sent traffic back up. However, President Trump has threatened new tariffs on Europe and Mexico at 30%. He also warned of 50% duties on copper and 100% on Russian energy buyers. As a result, analysts expect a sharp drop in U.S. import volume through July and into the holiday shipping season.

At TLC, we don’t flinch at port chaos. We doubled down on flexible planning, hold standby capacity, and secure backup routes through alternative gateways. Moreover, our tariffs desk runs continuous duty-rate checks to shield your budget from sudden spikes. Contact us today to discuss how we’re adjusting to tariff whipsaws and record port surges with your freight.

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