LA and Long Beach set records: 2 million TEUs in one month
The two ports handled about 2.04 million containers in September. For truckers, that means terminal lines.
Key facts
The Port of Los Angeles handled 1,042,652 TEUs in September, its busiest month in 118 years. It beat the previous record, set in July 2025, by more than 20,000 TEUs.
The Port of Long Beach, per Transport Topics, handled 997,177 TEUs, up 25% from September 2025. Together that is about 2.04 million TEUs, roughly 21% above a year earlier.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka ties the surge to resilient demand, importers restocking, and cargo shifting away from Suez and Panama routes.
PMSA data cited by Transport Topics: average truck dwell at the LA/LB ports rose 7.8% from August to 3.18 days, and rail dwell rose to 7.19 days.
For brokers: build wait time and detention risk into port drayage quotes. Drivers should check terminal appointment windows before heading out.
Source: Transport Topics, Marine Insight, Port of Los Angeles