Port of Los Angeles Reports Second-Highest April Container Volume Ever

The Port of Los Angeles announced that it handled 890,861 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in April 2026. This figure represents a 5.7% increase compared to April of the previous year and marks the second-highest April volume ever recorded by the port. For the first four months of 2026, the port's total throughput reached 3,279,704 TEUs.

This performance indicates a strong start to the year for the port, with volumes exceeding the five-year average for this period by 2%. However, it remains 2% below the ten-year average, suggesting a recovery towards pre-pandemic levels rather than an unprecedented surge.

For freight forwarders and operations managers, consistently high volumes at a major gateway like Los Angeles can lead to several considerations. While it signifies healthy demand, it also means continued pressure on terminal operations, potentially affecting vessel turnaround times and equipment availability. Forwarders should monitor port congestion levels and drayage capacity closely to manage client expectations and optimize supply chain flows through this critical West Coast port.