What did Long Beach report for May?
Port of Long Beach reporting says both imports and exports improved in May, with the biggest lift coming from inbound cargo. The port also says the result reflects supply chain resiliency despite ongoing tariff and geopolitical headwinds.
| Metric | May 2026 reading |
|---|---|
| Total May volume | 842,030 TEUs |
| Year-over-year change | +31.7% |
| Loaded imports | 418,851 TEUs |
| Import change | +40.0% |
| Loaded exports | 109,168 TEUs |
| Export change | +32.9% |
| Empty containers | 314,012 TEUs |
- The port described May as its third-busiest May on record.
- Long Beach says cargo moved through the gateway despite tariffs and wider geopolitical uncertainty.
- The volume lift reinforces the broader pattern of early and aggressive inventory movement into Southern California.
Does stronger volume automatically mean congestion is back?
Not by itself. High throughput can coexist with acceptable terminal performance for a while if labor, chassis, drayage, and rail handoffs remain functional. The more useful shipper reading is that Southern California import pressure is still building, which raises the odds that downstream rail ramps, warehouses, and truck appointments tighten before berth queues become the main story.
What Shippers Should Do
- Treat the volume surge as a demand signal for July planning, not as proof that delays have already hit every lane.
- Reconfirm inland pickup, warehouse receiving, and truck capacity around Southern California arrivals.
- Watch import-heavy cargo more closely than export-side indicators, because imports are driving the current acceleration.
- Pair Long Beach volume updates with Los Angeles, rail, and drayage data before deciding whether to frontload additional shipments.