The Port of Long Beach moved the most cargo in North America in March and through the first quarter of 2026, Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba announced recently.
Long Beach dockworkers and terminal operators handled 774,935 TEUs of cargo last month, 5.2% fewer containers than the same time in 2025, which was a record year of cargo movement for the Port.
Imports last month declined 1.6% to 374,412 TEUs, while exports showed a 0.5% uptick to 104,554 TEUs when compared to March 2025. Empty containers moving through the Port dropped 11.1% to 295,970 TEUs.
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Through the first quarter of this year, the Port of Long Beach processed 2,390,225 TEUs, more than any seaport in the nation. Cargo volumes for the first quarter of 2026 were down 5.7% from the first quarter of the Port’s record year of 2025.
“Thanks to the efforts of our ILWU workforce and terminal operators, the Port of Long Beach led the nation as the busiest container port for the month of March,” Hacegaba told reporters at his virtual media briefing. “While not our strongest month on record, we handled nearly 775,000 TEUs, making us the busiest gateway in North America.”
Hacegaba’s guest was Jonathan Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the National Retail Federation. Gold commented on how retailers large and small are faring given recent pressures on the supply chain.
Impacts from hostilities in the Middle East, including blocked vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, have not manifested in Long Beach, Hacegaba said.
“Despite these global pressures, the conflict has not yet reduced cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach,” he said.
“What we’re seeing instead is the impact of tariffs and timing and the comparison to a strong baseline the year before,” he said.
Hacegaba warned that war in the Middle East is creating uncertainty for global supply chains, even with a ceasefire in place.
“When ships are being rerouted to avoid conflict zones, it sets off a chain reaction,” Hacegaba said. “Cargo has to move differently. Routes get longer. Costs go up. And ultimately, consumers pay more.”
The supply chain is already reacting to rising fuel costs by implementing new surcharges and other cost-saving measures, Hacegaba said.
“Here’s the bottom line – what happens in the supply chain doesn’t stay in the supply chain,” Hacegaba said. “It shows up in the prices people pay every day. Not just higher price tags — but fewer discounts, higher free-shipping thresholds and slower delivery times.”
Meanwhile, rising fuel costs are accelerating the case for renewable energy and domestic energy independence, Hacegaba said, two major issues in the Port’s outlook.
“This is a pivotal moment for energy,” Hacegaba said, adding, “At the Port of Long Beach, we’re not waiting.”
At the media briefing, Hacegaba highlighted the four-year anniversary of the Clean Truck Fund Rate, which was created to fund zero-emissions trucks and infrastructure with container fees collected from cargo owners. Since its inception in 2022, more than $62 million has been reinvested toward transitioning trucks serving the Port into a zero-emissions fleet.
“This is how we turn policy into progress,” Hacegaba said.
“The Clean Truck Fund Rate is one example of how the Port of Long Beach continues to be a longstanding leader in environmental stewardship,” said Long Beach Harbour Commission President Frank Colonna. “The Port is committed to seaport sustainability and eliminating pollution from port operations.”
The Port is also investing in zero-emissions equipment, clean shipping corridors and offshore wind infrastructure such as the Port’s proposed Pier Wind terminal, Hacegaba said.
“We’re not just adapting to the future,” he said. “We’re building the Port of the Future today.”