LA Port Posts 1.03 Million TEU October as Strike Threat and Rail Delays Build

The Port of Los Angeles moved 1,026,872 TEU in October, its second-busiest month ever and the first time any US port has crossed the 1-million-TEU mark in consecutive months. The figure follows September's all-time record of 1,042,652 TEU and gives Los Angeles three million-TEU months in a single year — another first in its 118-year history.

"On the heels of September's all-time record, October makes it our second-best month ever," Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing. "No other U.S. port has handled 1 million units in a single month, and we've now done it three times this year, including back-to-back months for the first time ever."

From June through October, the port processed nearly 5 million TEUs, its strongest five-month stretch on record. Through October, cumulative volume stands at 9,108,497 TEUs — 5% ahead of last year and 9% above the five-year average.

Loaded imports hit 538,620 TEU in October, up 25% year over year and 30% above the port's five-year October average. Seroka credited sustained consumer spending, retailer restocking, trade policy shifts and disruptions on other global shipping routes. "This strength goes beyond holiday merchandise," he said. "We're moving consumer goods alongside parts, components, and equipment destined for American businesses and manufacturers."

Empty containers set a record too: 373,271 TEU repositioned, surpassing September's mark, as ocean carriers pull equipment back to Asia for additional sailings. Exports remain the weak spot. Loaded exports fell 7% year over year to 114,981 TEU — the sixth decline in the first ten months of 2026. "American farmers and manufacturers continue to face headwinds in overseas markets," Seroka said.

What could disrupt the record run?

Two risks loom over the San Pedro Bay complex. First, labor. The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26, representing roughly 250 maritime watchmen at Los Angeles and Long Beach, have extended contract talks through November 20. The extension defers a walkout but doesn't eliminate one. And while the watchmen are a small slice of the workforce, ILWU Local 13 longshore workers and Local 63 marine clerks have signaled they would honor Local 26 picket lines — a formula for a broader shutdown.

Second, rail. Approximately 9,500 rail-bound import containers at Los Angeles have waited nine days or longer for on-dock rail, with another 5,063 facing similar delays at Long Beach. Port dwell data shows about 67% of containers gate out within four days, but 23% sit nine days or longer. C.H. Robinson points to a shortage of intermodal railcars in Southern California as a key factor.

Trucking is stretched thin as well. "Port congestion at LA and Long Beach due to increased import volume and reduced driver capacity continues to be highly elevated," said Paul Brashier, vice president of global supply chain at ITS Logistics. "Shippers should be prepared to add additional trucking capacity to navigate these conditions through Lunar New Year."

Will 2027 hold the pace?

Seroka says November volumes look strong enough to put the port on track for its busiest year ever: "If December also delivers, I believe this could be the busiest year in our port's 118-year history." After two China visits, he reports factories there running at full capacity, with exporters expecting strong shipments into early 2027.

Policy tailwinds helped. Eased US-China tariff tensions and the extended suspension of US port fees on Chinese-built vessels have removed two near-term uncertainties. Importers are also front-loading ahead of Lunar New Year.

The demand side carries caveats. Potential Section 301 tariffs, the trajectory of US-China talks and semiconductor tensions could all shift flows. US credit card balances hit a record $1.29 trillion in the third quarter, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and elevated energy and food prices are squeezing household budgets into 2027.

One wild card is AI infrastructure. ImportGenius is tracking data center components moving through both ports as tech companies expand computing capacity nationwide. "Recent election results and limited grid capacity will cause investors in data centers to re-evaluate their exposure," said Lynn Hughes, lead analyst on ImportGenius's trade research team. "But it's very likely that the next area of competition is efficiency in training and inference."

For now, the record momentum holds. Whether it survives into 2027 depends on consumer demand, US-China relations, and whether Southern California's ports, railroads and trucking networks can keep freight moving.