More shipper pain on the way as carriers levy new peak season surcharges
Ocean carriers have continued their flurry of surcharge and rate increase announcements, which “continue to ...
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© Ian Whitworth
June was a record month for one major US west coast port as the ‘tariff whiplash’ encouraged front-loading, but now shippers choose between “waiting it out” and continuing to stockpile before tariff figures settle.
The port of Los Angeles saw its busiest June in its 117-year history, with 892,340 teu handled last month, 8% more than last year.
For comparison, June 2021 – at the height of the pandemic-induced global shopping spree – saw throughput of 876,430 teuat LA, while the all-time highest monthly throughput was 1,012,048 in May 2021.
Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka attributed the new June record to importers front-loading year-end holiday cargo ahead of potential higher tariffs.
Imports last month totalled 470,450 teu, 10% more than last year, and exports lhit 126,144 teu, a 3% improvement on 2024. The port also processed 295,746 empty containers, 7% more than last year.
And Mr Seroka indicated he expects the volume growth to continue this month.
“July may be our peak season month, as retailers and manufacturers bring orders in earlier than usual then brace for trade uncertainty,” he said.
The port of Los Angeles closed its fiscal year on 30 June, ending the period handling 10.5m teu, marking its third fiscal year exceeding 10m teu. And in the first half of this year, the port handled 4,955,812 teu, 5% more than the same period in 2024.
Director of the Global Shipper’s Forum James Hookham explained: “Many US importers have spent the past 90 days stockpiling goods in the US, as the rise and fall of traffic and rates on the transpacific trades has shown”.
But Mr Hookham told The Loadstar he expected “the fall-off to continue as we approach the key dates of ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and the end of the China pause, on 12 August”.
He added: “That’s because you need to ship goods by a certain date for them to be exempt from the new tariff rates. Activity after that will very much depend on where the tariff rates settle.
“Some countries like Vietnam have proposed a tariff-free agreement with the US, so it could be you will pay nothing extra if you wait it out. On the other hand, the talks could go the other way and 40%+ rates could be the outcome. Who knows?”
Meanwhile, hoping to capitalise on the growth of container imports into the west coast, International Transportation Service (ITS) has announced a $365m terminal expansion at the next-door port of Long Beach – a key part of which is a 560ft extension of the wharf.
The South Slip Fill Project will be completed in December 2028 and is set to increase cargo handling capacity by up to 50% and “position ITS for long-term growth at one of the world’s busiest ports”.
Filling a 19-acre ‘horseshoe’ gap at the terminal will allow simultaneous berthing of two 18,000 teu container vessels, described as “a major step forward in handling the next generation of ultra-large ships and increasing overall terminal throughput” by ITS.
“This project strengthens America’s supply chain by investing in infrastructure the right way— using local labour and US-made materials,” said Kim Holtermand, CEO of ITS Long Beach.
“We’re not just preparing for the future—we’re building it here, at home,” he added.
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