Port of Long Beach sets monthly cargo record in September
Container News · Oct 17, 2026
The Port of Long Beach achieved its busiest month in 115 years of history in September 2026, handling 997,177 TEUs and eclipsing the previous record of 987,191 TEUs set in October 2024. The result represents a 25% increase compared to September 2025, with zero congestion reported during the record month. Imports soared 31.3% year-on-year to […]
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What this moves
Real friction: delays, added cost, or partial capacity loss.
Import surges land as chassis and drayage shortages before they show as vessel queues — the binding constraint is landside, not the water.
Check it yourself: Daily port calls & congestion (IMF PortWatch) · Port Performance Programme (UNCTAD)
Drayage demand in Southern California is highly concentrated, so gate congestion prices into the regional truckload market quickly.
Check it yourself: DAT Truckload Volume & Rate Indexes (DAT Freight & Analytics)
Transload volumes move onto Class I rail within days, so a West Coast surge becomes a Midwest intermodal problem shortly afterwards.
Check it yourself: Rail Traffic Data (weekly) (Association of American Railroads) · Railroad Performance Measures (Surface Transportation Board)
The corridor
Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach
Domestic corridorUS West CoastThe San Pedro Bay complex is the largest container gateway in the United States and the primary landing point for transpacific imports. What happens on these two adjacent terminals sets the tempo for US inland freight two to three weeks later.
- Import surges land as chassis and drayage shortages before they show as vessel queues — the constraint is usually on the landside, not the water.
- Transload volumes move onto Class I rail within days, so a West Coast surge becomes a Chicago intermodal problem shortly afterwards.
- Labour negotiations, terminal automation disputes and truck-appointment policy changes all move throughput without changing a single vessel schedule.
- When the Panama Canal restricts transits, discretionary cargo shifts here, which is the main way a Central American drought becomes a US domestic trucking story.
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