What did Los Angeles report for May?
The port's June 16 briefing shows a clear import-led increase rather than a balanced rise across all cargo categories. Year-to-date volume remains only modestly ahead of 2025, which suggests the recent jump is meaningful but not yet a full-year breakout.
| Metric | May 2026 reading |
|---|---|
| Total May volume | 840,165 TEUs |
| Year-over-year change | +17% |
| Loaded imports | 449,370 TEUs |
| Import change | +26% |
| Loaded exports | 107,657 TEUs |
| Export change | -10% |
| Empty containers | 283,138 TEUs |
- Through the first five months of 2026, Los Angeles handled 4,119,869 TEUs, up 1.4% from the same period last year.
- Port leadership linked the May lift to inventory replenishment, fuel-cost concerns, trade-policy uncertainty, and preparation for upcoming retail seasons.
- The port said there were no vessel backlogs or cargo delays at the time of the briefing.
Does higher volume automatically mean congestion risk is back?
Not yet, based on the port's own operating statement. The current signal is that cargo owners are pulling freight forward while the gateway is still functioning smoothly. That combination can change quickly if import growth persists into July and August, but the May print alone does not prove a renewed congestion cycle.
What Shippers Should Do
- Use the May volume increase as an early-warning planning signal, not as proof of current delay.
- Reconfirm truck and warehouse capacity for July-August arrivals if your routing depends heavily on San Pedro Bay imports.
- Track inland handoff metrics separately from marine-side port fluidity, because rail and drayage constraints can tighten before vessel queues do.
- If you are frontloading inventory, lock downstream appointments earlier than usual even while terminal conditions remain stable.