As Black Friday approaches, the Port of Long Beach reported steady trade activity through October, keeping pace with last year’s strong performance. Retailers continued to move goods early to offset tariff-related costs and ensure well-stocked inventories ahead of the holiday season.
During a virtual news conference, Port CEO Mario Cordero and COO Noel Hacegaba said cargo has been moving efficiently despite economic and trade policy uncertainty. “Consumers have not yet felt major tariff impacts, but that may change as we approach 2026,” Cordero noted. “We expect more costs to be passed along to consumers in the coming months.”
Hacegaba added that even amid challenges like the ongoing government shutdown, the Port’s operations and national supply chains remain stable. “We’re working closely with partners to anticipate and mitigate issues before they arise,” he said.
In October, dockworkers and terminal operators handled 839,671 TEUs, a 14.9% drop from October 2024, the Port’s strongest month on record. Imports declined 17.6% to 401,915 TEUs, exports fell 11.5% to 99,817 TEUs, and empty containers decreased 12.6% to 337,940 TEUs.
Despite the monthly decline, year-to-date volumes remain positive, with 8.23 million TEUs moved from January through October, up 4.1% compared to the same period last year.
Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna praised the workforce and terminal operators for maintaining reliability. “We’re ensuring shelves are stocked and shoppers have access to holiday goods while continuing to build for a sustainable future,” he said.
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