Cargo at the Port of Los Angeles decreases in January.

In January, the Port of Los Angeles processed 812,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), marking a 12% decrease from last year. Executive Director Gene Seroka attributed this decline to comparisons with elevated cargo levels from 2025, higher inventories, and ongoing uncertainty in U.S. trade policy. Despite these challenges, consumer resilience remains strong, with stable purchase orders to Asia. Additionally, economist Chad Bown discussed the anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs and future trade policy expectations. January 2026 saw loaded imports at 421,594 TEUs (down 13%) and loaded exports at 104,297 TEUs (down 8%).