What’s Behind the Drop in Ship Arrivals at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports [2025 Update]
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle nearly 40% of containerized imports for the United States. These busy gateways connect U.S. businesses with factories and suppliers overseas, shaping prices and product availability nationwide. When ship traffic slows at these ports, it quickly affects store shelves, production lines, and jobs.
Recently, fewer ships are making the journey due to a dip in demand from China, higher tariffs, and new trade policies. Ocean carriers are canceling sailings and rethinking their routes. While cargo volumes remain steady thanks to smarter scheduling and big investments in port upgrades, supply chains are adapting to less frequent shipments and shifting trade flows. This matters for anyone who relies on timely deliveries—whether you're a manufacturer, freight forwarder, or shopper looking for your next purchase.
The Strategic Importance of Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports
Photo by Thomas Parker
The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports stand as the backbone of U.S. container trade, acting as the main entry points for goods from Asia to North America. Their combined size, shipping capacity, and logistical reach shape not just the West Coast economy, but the entire country's supply chain. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these ports so significant for U.S. and global trade.
Gateway for U.S. Imports and Exports
Together, Los Angeles and Long Beach handle a massive share of America’s international cargo. These adjacent ports form the single largest port complex in North America and account for about one-third of all U.S. containerized imports.
- Over 300 trade routes connect these ports to more than 180 global trading partners.
- Their proximity to major rail and trucking networks means fast transport of goods—fresh produce, electronics, automobiles, and everyday products—to nearly every region in the country.
- A drop in activity here quickly affects retailers, factories, and distribution centers nationwide. This isn’t just a local issue—it ripples out to affect families and businesses across the map.
For a deep dive into figures and trends, the Port of Los Angeles' statistics page gives detailed breakdowns on the port’s international reach.
Size, Capacity, and Share of Container Volume
Los Angeles and Long Beach are not just big—they are giants in the shipping world. Their combined capacity consistently places them among the top ports globally in terms of cargo moved.
- Last year, the two ports together handled more than 19 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)—the industry standard for measuring container volume.
- Long Beach alone processed over 9 million TEUs, with cargo valued at around $300 billion.
- Frequent mega-ship arrivals and massive container yards let the ports handle some of the world's largest vessels.
- According to official Long Beach Port facts, the port complex ranks ninth in the world by container volume.
The scale and efficiency of LA and Long Beach allow them to serve as a barometer for international shipping trends. When fewer ships call at Southern California, it signals a larger shift in supply chains and consumer demand, both in the U.S. and around the globe.
Direct Impact on Jobs and the Economy
This port complex isn’t just about cargo; it's a cornerstone for jobs and economic activity.
- The ports support hundreds of thousands of jobs—from dockworkers and customs agents to truck drivers and rail operators.
- The movement of goods through these ports fuels nearby manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse operations.
A look at the Southern California ports' importance for U.S. trade and jobs shows just how deeply they are tied to the national employment and economic picture.
In short, Los Angeles and Long Beach ports play an unmatched role in keeping America’s shelves stocked and our economy humming. Their shifts signal changes that every part of the supply chain feels.
Recent Shifts in Shipping Volumes and Port Activity
A shifting tide has swept through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach over the last two years, with shipping trends, new records, and rapid innovation reshaping how cargo moves. Looking at the latest numbers and upgrades, it's clear the ports aren't standing still—they're setting a new standard for efficiency, sustainability, and responsiveness to world changes.
Cargo and Vessel Statistics for 2024-2025
Photo by Kindel Media
The story in Southern California ports this year is anything but simple. While fewer ships might be calling, those that do arrive tend to be larger, more efficient, and fuller than before. Here’s what the latest data reveals:
- Los Angeles handled about 10.3 million TEUs in 2024, rebounding from 8.6 million TEUs in 2023 and closing in on the record highs of the pandemic-era surge.
- Long Beach posted nine consecutive months of growth into 2025, moving over 1.7 million TEUs in January and February—a sharp jump of 27.4% from the prior year (Port of Long Beach cargo stats).
- February 2025 alone saw the port process 765,385 TEUs, marking a 13.4% increase from the same month in 2024 (FreightWaves on nine-month cargo gain).
- Trends show a shift from frequent smaller ship arrivals to less frequent, larger vessel calls—a response to higher fuel costs, route consolidation, and changing trade demand.
- Most cargo still originates from East Asia, especially China, but diversification is happening as importers look to Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Seasonal peaks have also flattened. Instead of sharp swings tied to holiday surges and retail schedules, cargo movement now shows steady throughput, even during what used to be slack periods. Still, external shocks like new tariffs in 2025 could cause temporary volume drops, as recent headlines have warned (US Ports February cargo surge).
Infrastructure Investments and Operational Innovations
Faced with global uncertainty and rising consumer expectations, the ports have doubled down on new infrastructure. Here’s a look at their ongoing projects and operational shifts:
- Major rail yard expansions and terminal improvements are underway, allowing more containers to be quickly offloaded and shuttled inland.
- Smart gate systems, automation, and advanced scheduling tools now direct truck traffic, reducing idle times and unraveling previous bottlenecks.
- Container dwell time for imports dropped to an average of 2.86 days in 2024, a steep decline from the eight-day peaks of 2021. Rail dwell times have followed suit, even with a 12% uptick in rail volume.
- Cleaner technologies are everywhere—from yard tractors running on electricity to ships plugging into shore power. Since 2005, the region has slashed diesel pollution by over 90% and greenhouse gases by 20%, according to official container statistics.
Recent projects focus not just on moving more cargo but on moving it with less environmental fallout and more reliability. That means continuous upgrades to cranes, digitized workflows, and investments in green energy infrastructure—all aimed at smoothing the journey for each container.
In summary, the newest phase at Los Angeles and Long Beach shows fewer but fuller ships, investment in smarter infrastructure, and a port complex that’s as focused on clean air as on global trade. These advances are not just keeping pace—they're setting new expectations for what’s possible at America’s largest gateways.
