Port of Long Beach posts best August on record

What's happening

The Port of Long Beach handled 919,992 TEUs in August 2026, a 2% increase over August 2025 and the fifth-busiest month in the port's history.

Through the first eight months of the year, the port moved 6.68 million TEUs, 1.3% ahead of 2025's pace. Several outlets, including gCaptain, reported it as the port's best August on record. Port CEO Noel Hacegaba said the August numbers show that shippers continue to adapt to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty and are confident in the port's ability to deliver.

• Imports: 456,100 TEUs, up 3.6% year over year
• Exports: 99,754 TEUs, up 4%
• Empties: 364,138 TEUs, down 0.4%
• Year to date: 6.68 million TEUs, up 1.3%

What it means for owners, tenants and investors

Together, the San Pedro Bay ports are running slightly ahead of 2025 despite tariff uncertainty. That steadiness matters for industrial occupiers across Long Beach, the Mid-Counties and the South Bay, where proximity to the terminals is still the primary driver of rent premiums.

For investors, consistent throughput reduces the downside case for port-related logistics assets and supports continued interest in yard and outdoor storage sites. Taken with the Port of Los Angeles' 955,907 TEUs in August, the two ports moved more than 1.87 million TEUs in the month. At Long Beach, exports grew 4%, slightly ahead of imports at 3.6%. For tenants, steady volume at both ports means port-close space is unlikely to loosen quickly.

What to watch

Whether import growth continues into the fourth quarter, and any changes in tariff policy that could shift cargo between West Coast and East Coast gateways. The port's year-end total will show whether 2026 can match or exceed 2025, which it is currently leading by 1.3%.

Photo: Julia Taubitz / Unsplash.