1,019,837. This is the amount of containers that the port of Los Angeles was in charge in July, a record since its creation 117 years ago, the port announced on Wednesday, August 13 on its website. “The chargers have anticipated their charges for several months, to anticipate the customs tariffs to come,” explains Gene Seroka, executive director of the port of Los Angeles.
Last month, the most active port in the United States registered an 8.5% higher activity than that registered in July 2025 between the containers that enter their terminals and those that come out. Gero Seroka attributes this increase to the precipitation of merchants who wanted to collect their products quickly to ensure that they reach the US points of sale before the final entry into the force of customs duties announced by Donald Trump on August 7.
An activity in a strong withdrawal at the beginning of spring
Since the beginning of 2025, the port of Los Angeles has already been in charge of almost 6 million containers, 5% more than in 2024, despite a deceleration period in May. In early May, when Donald Trump had suddenly incorporated the customs duties of 145% against a China, the activity of the port of Los Angeles, located on the western side of the United States and through which numerous Chinese loads pass, had fallen dramatically. Gene Serka then mentioned “up to 35%” less traffic for the first week of May compared to the same period in 2024.
With the port of Long Beach, its twin and direct neighbor, the Los Angeles area represents the largest port complex in the United States and the main entrance door to Chinese products in the country. In the two ports, the cancellations of the ships were counted by dozens at the beginning of spring, the Long Beach site anticipated a 30% drop in imports for the month of May.
“Russian mountains throughout the year”
At the beginning of the year, Long Beach and Los Angeles saw American companies hurriedly prepare for customs tasks, promised by Donald Trump throughout their campaign. The volumes of charges jumped because their orders increased to build a maximum of uncomplete actions. But as soon as the port machine is flu, everyone wonders how long the United States can last in these reserves, Generka estimates “five to seven weeks” the actions of many merchants who call the port of Los Angeles.
And for a good reason, a load takes three to four weeks to connect the east coast of China and the west coast of the United States, while the US president has extended commercial rest between the two countries, which leads to the beginning of November.
Source: BFM TV
