Port of Los Angeles Container Volume Rises 5.7 Percent in April

The Port of Los Angeles processed 890,861 container units in April, a 5.7 percent increase from the same month last year and the second-highest April total on record. The gain occurred despite the war in Iran, sharply higher shipping fuel costs and continued uncertainty over tariffs.

Imports drove the increase, rising to about 460,000 20-foot equivalent units. That figure represented a 5 percent increase from a year earlier and a 21 percent jump from March. Port officials said resilient consumer spending in the United States remained the main factor.

"And what's driving this, generally speaking, is the American consumer, still resilient, still spending," a port executive director said during a news conference. The official added that early shipments of back-to-school and holiday merchandise had already begun moving from Asia.

That total sits 2 percent above the five-year average but 2 percent below last year's pace, which had been elevated as importers moved goods ahead of tariffs imposed by President Trump. More than 95 percent of the port's trade involves Asian partners.

China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam ranked as the top five countries.

Outbound containers fell 0.5 percent to about 128,000 TEUs in April. Officials attributed part of the decline to the effects of tariffs on export markets. Last week a federal judge ruled that 10 percent global tariffs imposed by President Trump under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 were unlawful.

The duties had been introduced after an earlier round of tariffs was struck down in February. It was not immediately clear how the ruling would affect importers who had already paid the levies. The Justice Department could appeal the decision to a federal appeals court.