Port of Los Angeles Sets Record for Container Traffic in September

Although U.S. export traffic continues to lag, a surge in imports from China pushed shipping activity at the Port of Los Angeles to its best month ever.

The Port of Los Angeles processed 883,625 shipping containers in September, an increase of +13.3% compared to 2019. It marks the busiest September as well as the best single three-month quarter – 2,701,847 shipping containers, also known as “TEUs,” (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) – in the Port’s 114-year history. "Despite unresolved questions about our nation's health, economy and export strength, imports have improved significantly after a difficult spring," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, in the press release.

September loaded imports increased +17.3% to 471,795 TEUs compared to the previous year. Loaded exports decreased -0.3% to 130,397 TEUs. Empty containers increased +14% to 281,434 TEUs. The 883,625 TEUs in total eclipsed the previous September record of 801,264 set in 2018. The Port of Los Angeles is North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value and in 2019 handled $276 billion in annual cargo volume.