“This January milestone adds to a great run of strong volume, with the last seven months averaging more than 927,000 container units,” stated Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, during a media briefing. He credited the success to a strong economy, with importers bringing in cargo as a hedge against tariffs and in anticipation of the Lunar New Year.

Similarly, the Port of Long Beach reported its strongest January on record, achieving its second-busiest month ever. The port processed 952,733 containers, a 41.4% increase from 674,015 containers last year. This surge in volume is largely attributed to retailers moving cargo ahead of expected tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada. “It’s encouraging to start off the year so strongly,” noted Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach. “We will continue to focus on enhancing both our competitiveness and sustainability, regardless of the uncertainties in the supply chain.”

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which encompasses the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, also reported significant growth, with combined January container volumes increasing 25.4% year over year to 264,869 TEUs, up from 211,283. The alliance highlighted that strong cargo growth was driven by high vessel schedule reliability, consistent rail service, and new customers, enabling the port to exceed its five-year average for cargo volumes.

Port Houston experienced a 7% year-over-year increase in volume, processing 356,407 containers compared to 332,961 last year. This number also reflects a 5% increase from the previous month’s total of 340,418 containers. The port recently wrapped up a record-breaking year, processing 53,066,219 tons of cargo in 2024.

Several other ports have yet to release their data but are expected to do so in the coming week. As the year progresses, the continued strong performance of U.S. ports will be crucial for maintaining supply chain stability and meeting demand.