{"id":92601,"date":"2026-02-17T20:27:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/893194997"},"modified":"2026-02-17T20:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:27:54","slug":"l-a-port-sees-cargo-drop-in-january-as-tariffs-continue-bringing-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/l-a-port-sees-cargo-drop-in-january-as-tariffs-continue-bringing-uncertainty\/","title":{"rendered":"L.A. port sees cargo drop in January as tariffs continue bringing uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As expected, the first month of 2026 showed a drop in cargo numbers at the Port of Los Angeles compared to this time a year ago.<\/p>\n

The numbers were reported Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the monthly virtual news briefing held by Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka, who announced processed cargo containers hit about 812,000 \u2014 a 12% drop from January 2025.<\/p>\n

Cargo movements have been widely expected to flatten during the first six months of the new year following 2025, when importers rushed to move additional cargo ahead of tariffs.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates projected that import volume at the nation\u2019s major container ports was expected to see \u201ca significant year-over-year decline during the first half of 2026,\u201d citing the impact of tariffs.<\/p>\n

As for the Port of L.A., several factors were at play in the most recent statistics, Seroka said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, we\u2019re comparing January to 2025 elevated numbers when importers were scrambling to get cargo in ahead of tariffs,\u201d Seroka said. \u201cSecond, inventories remain slightly higher, reflecting the earlier cargo surge and a more cautious restocking pace.\u201d<\/p>\n

And finally, he added, \u201cU.S. trade policy continues to keep everyone on edge.\u201d<\/p>\n

American consumers, though, also have \u201cshown remarkable resilience,\u201d Seroka said, with purchase orders going out three months in advance to Asia appearing stable, which the port leader called \u201ca good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n