Port of Long Beach Cargo Volumes Jump 31.7% in May

Key Takeaways

• May TEU volume hit 842,030, up 31.7% YoY.
• Imports jumped 40% to 418,851 TEUs.
• Exports rose 32.9% to 109,168 TEUs.
• Empty containers increased 21.8% to 314,012 TEUs.
• First five months total 4.05M TEUs, slightly above 2025.

Pulse Analysis

The Port of Long Beach posted a striking 31.7% year‑over‑year jump in TEU throughput for May, handling 842,030 containers. This surge pushes the month into the top three busiest on record and mirrors a broader rebound in transpacific trade that began in late 2025. After two years of pandemic‑induced volatility and lingering labor disputes, shippers are re‑routing cargo to the West Coast to meet demand from U.S. manufacturers and retailers. The data also underscores the port’s strategic advantage in serving the Southern California market, where consumer consumption remains robust.

The ILWU’s recent negotiations and improved work‑rule flexibility are credited with the smoother flow of vessels, translating into a 40% jump in imports and a 32.9% rise in exports. Higher empty‑container movements—up 21.8%—signal that carriers are repositioning assets to meet the renewed demand, which in turn eases drayage bottlenecks for trucking firms. Rail operators are also seeing increased intermodal volumes, prompting terminal operators to accelerate investments in automation and yard‑management systems to sustain the momentum.

Looking ahead, the port’s five‑month total of 4.05 million TEUs already eclipses the same period in 2025, positioning it for a potential record‑breaking year. However, capacity constraints on the surrounding highway network and a looming shortage of qualified longshore workers could temper growth. Competitors such as the neighboring Port of Los Angeles are also scaling up, intensifying the race for cargo. Stakeholders will watch closely how policy decisions on infrastructure funding and immigration affect labor supply, which will be decisive for maintaining the current trajectory.