Near-Record Imports at Top US Container Port Despite Trade War

Despite the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, the Port of Long Beach reported near-record import volumes in January 2026, according to FreightWaves. The top U.S. container port handled 840,389 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, the second-highest January on record and a 5.6% increase over January 2025. Imports reached 425,849 TEUs, just shy of the all-time January high set in 2024. 'The continued strength of imports through Long Beach is a bit surprising given the economic uncertainty and trade war between the U.S. and China,' said logistics expert Jill McCluskey. 'It suggests that retailers and manufacturers are still bringing in high volumes of goods, likely to restock inventories and prepare for the spring and summer shipping seasons.' The robust trade volumes come despite an ongoing trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. The U.S. and China have imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of each other's goods since 2018, disrupting global supply chains. However, the impact on the Port of Long Beach has been less severe than many analysts predicted. 'The trade war is certainly having an effect, but the overall economy and consumer demand remain strong, which is keeping imports flowing through the San Pedro Bay ports,' said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. 'We're cautiously optimistic that 2026 will be another good year for the port.' The strong January performance follows a record-breaking 2025 for the Port of Long Beach, which handled over 9 million TEUs for the first time. The port's market share of U.S. container traffic has grown steadily in recent years, reaching nearly 35% in 2025 as shippers seek to avoid congestion at other West Coast gateways. While the long-term trade outlook remains uncertain, the near-term prospects for the Port of Long Beach appear bright, according to industry analysts. 'As long as the U.S. economy and consumer spending hold up, we expect to see healthy cargo volumes continue to flow through Long Beach,' said McCluskey.