On October 9 local time, the Port of Los Angeles announced that its September container throughput reached 1,042,652 TEU, the highest single-month figure in its 118-year history, about 20,000-plus TEU above the previous record set in July 2025.

Specifically, the Port of Los Angeles handled 1.043 million TEU in September, up 18.1% year-on-year. Of that, loaded imports rose 18.6% year-on-year to 546,000 TEU, while loaded exports rose 9.6% year-on-year to 126,000 TEU. In addition, the number of empty containers moving through the Port of Los Angeles increased 20.4% year-on-year to 371,000 TEU, also the highest monthly figure in the port’s history.

In the first nine months of 2026, container throughput at the Port of Los Angeles reached 8.082 million TEU, up 3.4% year-on-year.

The Port of Los Angeles said that after container throughput topped 1 million TEU in June, it reached 960,000 TEU in July, 956,000 TEU in August, and a record 1.04 million TEU in September. From June to September, nearly 4 million TEU moved through the port, making it the busiest four months in the Port of Los Angeles’ history.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, “After setting the best single-month performance in its history in September, the Port of Los Angeles remains an incredible economic engine for the region and the nation, creating high-paying union jobs for Angelenos and maintaining Los Angeles’ status as a global hub for trade and commerce. Thank you to Gene Seroka for his leadership, and special thanks to the hardworking men and women of the ILWU for their continued commitment to the port’s success. Los Angeles is strong because our port is strong, and none of this would be possible without a dedicated and skilled workforce.”

Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, said, “September was a record-breaking month and part of an extraordinary run at the Port of Los Angeles.”

He noted, “Consumer demand remains resilient, importers are replenishing inventory, and as shippers deal with ongoing challenges on other global trade routes, more cargo is being routed to Los Angeles.”

He emphasized, “Our focus is simple: finish the year strong and continue serving our customers.”

Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School, also joined the media briefing and said, “Companies are shifting from pure cost optimization to choice optimization.”

He noted, “With so much uncertainty in global trade, companies are seeking greater flexibility in sourcing, manufacturing, and moving goods.”