Lengthy Seashore, California, port visitors ticked up barely from final yr’s document volumes

Bloomberg Information

Container volumes at California’s Lengthy Seashore port are forward of final yr’s record-setting tempo, largely as a result of retailers ordered shipments early and stocked warehouses earlier than tariffs and reciprocal tariffs started in April, port officers mentioned.

POLB has moved 8.2 million twenty-foot equal models (TEUs), (the usual unit of measurement for cargo capability used within the delivery business), by means of the primary 10 months of 2025, up 4.1% from the identical interval final yr, based on port knowledge.

Shifting commerce insurance policies have introduced uncertainty to shoppers and the provision chain, however cargo continues to stream easily on the nation’s second-busiest port, Port of Lengthy Seashore Chief Government Officer Mario Cordero and Chief Working Officer Noel Hacegaba mentioned throughout a digital press briefing Friday.

“Even within the midst of the nation’s longest authorities shutdown, cargo continues to maneuver easily by means of our port and throughout the nation’s provide chain,” Hacegaba mentioned. “We proceed to coordinate carefully with all of our companions to anticipate and mitigate points earlier than they come up to maintain cargo and our economic system shifting.”

Although cargo volumes are nonetheless besting final yr, port quantity in October dropped considerably from the identical month a yr in the past.

Quantity fell to 839,671 TEUs final month, down 14.9% from October 2024, which stays because the port’s strongest month in its 114-year historical past. Imports declined 17.6% to 401,915 TEUs and exports decreased 11.5% to 99,817 TEUs. Empty containers shifting by means of the port had been down 12.6% to 337,940 TEUs.

Till now, retailers, producers and different intermediaries have absorbed a lot of the price of tariffs, however that’s altering because it turns into extra obvious, which tariffs are right here to remain, Cordero mentioned.

“Customers will seemingly see value escalation within the coming months as shippers proceed to move alongside the price of tariffs on items as a better share of those prices can be handed on to the buyer,” Cordero mentioned.

The port is anticipating a wholesome Black Friday, although shoppers are anticipated to be cautious about purchases on account of rising costs, port officers mentioned.

In July, Fitch Rankings affirmed the AA score and steady outlook on the town of Lengthy Seashore’s $469.2 million of excellent senior lien harbor and AA-minus score on the $491.9 million excellent subordinated lien Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act mortgage.

The port’s bonds additionally maintain an AA-plus score with a steady outlook from S&P International Rankings and Aa2 score from Moody’s Rankings. Moody’s positioned a unfavorable outlook on the U.S. port business in April.