Foreign media: Container imports at the U.S. ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have plummeted...

According to a report by American Shipper on October 19, imports at Southern California ports are declining rapidly, as shippers have shifted cargo volumes to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports amid concerns over potential disruptions from West Coast port labor negotiations. Meanwhile, nationwide sales are cooling due to falling demand. On Wednesday, the Port of Los Angeles reported its lowest September import total since 2009. The day before, neighboring Long Beach Harbor announced its lowest September import volume since 2016. "Sharp decline" in holiday-season imports Earlier this year, imports of durable goods—such as furniture and appliances—purchased in bulk during the pandemic began tapering off. In September, reduced imports of holiday merchandise also significantly contributed to the overall decline. "September is traditionally a high-volume month for year-end products," explained Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, at a press conference on Wednesday. "Think toys and games, apparel, footwear, and other items. These holiday gifts declined sharply compared to September last year—mainly because they arrived earlier this year. Our peak season occurred in June and July, as savvy importers advanced their arrival timelines to secure market entry timing." Commenting on the shift toward East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, Seroka said: "Concerns about ongoing negotiations over dockworkers’ collective bargaining agreements are the primary driver behind the freight volume decline." He believes this shift "may persist until new West Coast labor contracts are finalized—and that won’t happen anytime soon." The previous contract expired on July 1. When asked by American Shipper how October’s freight volumes compare with those of September, he replied that they "will likely be roughly the same or slightly lighter—a mild October." Los Angeles September imports down 15% month-on-month The Port of Los Angeles handled a total of 709,873 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, a 21.5% year-on-year (y/y) decline. Exports totaled 77,680 TEUs, up 2.6% y/y, while empty container volume stood at 288,731 TEUs, down 19.8% y/y. Loaded imports into Los Angeles amounted to just 343,462 TEUs, down 26.6% y/y. Following an 16.7% drop in August compared to July, imports fell another 15.1% month-on-month in September.

New record high! The Port of Los Angeles handled 1.0427 million TEUs in September! How should large-item sellers prepare inventory ahead of Black Friday?

Even before Black Friday arrives, U.S. import volumes have already surged. On October 9 local time, the Port of Los Angeles released its latest data: it processed 1.0427 million TEUs in September 2026—the highest monthly volume in the port’s 118-year history. The day before, logistics data firm Descartes published a report showing that U.S. maritime container imports reached 2.546 million TEUs in September, up 10.3% year-on-year—the highest September figure on record. These two announcements back-to-back indicate continued vitality in the U.S. import market. For cross-border sellers preparing for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the year-end sales rush, a critical question now is: With goods already en route but inventory not yet in stock, how should they plan ahead to avoid both stockouts and overstocking during peak season? I. What’s behind the new U.S. import volume record? The surge in throughput at the Port of Los Angeles stems primarily from pre-holiday restocking, importers replenishing inventories, and adjustments to international shipping routes. Affected by factors such as Panama Canal transit conditions, some shipments from Asia to the U.S. East Coast have rerouted, diverting part of the cargo flow to the U.S. West Coast. The Port of Los Angeles expects October throughput to reach approximately 900,000 TEUs, with most holiday-season goods arriving in the U.S. before November. However, note that rising import volumes do not automatically mean port congestion—or that demand is rising across all product categories. The Descartes report shows that U.S. maritime container imports declined 2.2% month-on-month in September, though still up 10.3% year-on-year. At the same time, the West Coast’s share of total U.S. cargo volume rose, and eight of the top ten U.S. ports reported increased shipping delays. This means sellers cannot rely solely on national import statistics to gauge shipment status. Final delivery timelines depend on which port the cargo arrives at, which state it’s destined for, and the receiving warehouse’s capacity to accept goods. As peak-season restocking continues, sellers must proactively coordinate transportation, warehouse intake, and subsequent distribution to minimize bottlenecks across these stages. II. Ahead of Black Friday, what key inventory metrics should sellers review right now? Rather than blindly ordering more stock simply because port volumes hit a record high, sellers should first reconcile their in-transit inventory against sales forecasts. • Audit in-transit shipments—avoid duplicate orders Categorize inventory into three groups: U.S. warehouse stock-on-hand, goods en route, and goods not yet shipped. For each key SKU, track current sellable inventory, recent daily average sales, estimated warehouse arrival date, and required replenishment quantity. If existing stock covers projected sales through the expected arrival window, no additional order is needed—even amid heightened market activity. Conversely, if days-of-cover fall below the lead time, sellers must urgently confirm vessel schedules, customs clearance, and warehouse intake arrangements. • Distinguish between port arrival time and sellable time

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The Port of Los Angeles recorded a September volume milestone with 1.04 million TEUs, driven by holiday demand and Panama Canal diversions, while US import totals reached a monthly high.

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Port of Los Angeles Sets September Volume Record, Executive Director Says

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