Ports

Long Beach Port Hits 115-Year Peak with Nearly 1M Container Milestone

The Port of Long Beach achieved its highest monthly throughput in 115 years during September, moving 997,177 twenty-foot-equivalent units and surpassing the previous record of 987,191 TEUs set in October 2024. The September performance represented a 25% jump from the same month last year. Port officials attributed the surge to shippers rerouting cargo amid elevated diesel expenses and Panama Canal limitations. The month's gains occurred without operational delays. Through nine months of 2026, the port processed 7,675,255 TEUs, up 3%. Imports climbed 3% year-over-year to 509,390 TEUs while exports gained 7%. Total Terminals International established a monthly rail record by handling 59,410 moves in September. As the Vincent Thomas Bridge replacement project begins in November, Long Beach will extend evening and weekend gate hours for six weeks to give truckers more flexibility.