The Port of Long Beach recorded its busiest ever month in September, moving nearly 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo.

According to an October 15 release, the port handled 997,177 TEUs in September, beating the previous record of 987,191 TEUs set in October 2024. That was driven primarily by a 31.3% year-over-year surge in imports, as well as a 7.8% bump in exports.

“Shippers continue to lean on the Port of Long Beach as a reliable partner in their business strategies, leading to our historic month for cargo,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba.

Over the first nine months of 2026, the port has moved more than 7.6 million TEUs, up nearly 4% compared to that same period last year. September's record-setting volumes also topped that same month in 2025 by 25%. Four miles west, Long Beach's Southern California neighbor, the Port of Los Angeles, reported a record breaking month of its own, processing more than 1.04 million TEUs in September. 

Although the Vincent Thomas Bridge — a key route for cargo moving through Southern California's shipping hubs — is set to close for the rest of the year for a deck replacement project, the Port of Long Beach is planning to offer additional gates at terminals on evenings and Saturdays to offer more flexibility for customers. The extended gate program will start in late October and continue for six weeks (excluding the week of Thanksgiving).