The Port of Long Beach achieved its busiest month in its 115-year history by moving nearly 1 million container units in September, a milestone fueled by the Port’s inclusion in shippers’ cost-saving strategies against high diesel costs, Panama Canal access restrictions and a possible new U.S.-China trade deal.

The Port handled a record-setting 997,177 twenty-foot-equivalent units last month, eclipsing the previous record of 987,191 TEUs achieved in October 2024, Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba said Thursday during his monthly Supply Chain Insight media briefing. Longshore workers and terminal operators in Long Beach processed 25% more cargo last month than they did in September 2025, with speed, efficiency and zero congestion.

“I am extremely proud of everyone who has played a role in delivering the busiest month the Port of Long Beach has ever experienced, including our dockworkers and terminal operators,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “It is a testament to our ability to move cargo efficiently and safely, providing high value to our customers.”

“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,” Hacegaba said. “Every milestone brings us closer to achieving our long-term goal of doubling cargo volumes to 20 million TEUs annually by 2050 as we build the Port of the Future™.”

Imports last month soared 31.3% to 509,390 TEUs, exports increased 7.8% to 91,747 TEUs and empty containers rose 22.1% to 396,040 TEUs when compared to the same month in 2025.

Year-to-date, the Port of Long Beach has moved 7,675,255 TEUs through September, up 3.9% compared to the same period last year.

Hacegaba spotlighted Total Terminals International, which set a new Port of Long Beach monthly rail record in September by handling 59,410 moves, representing nearly half of the terminal’s total container volume.

During the media briefing, Hacegaba spoke with Peter Friedmann, Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, about the state of agricultural exports and how diesel prices could impact the industry in the months ahead.

Hacegaba also highlighted a Port incentive program to help keep cargo moving during the planned closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Port of Los Angeles. The program will offer additional gates at Long Beach container terminals on evenings and Saturdays to offer additional flexibility and terminal access to customers. The extended gate program starts in late October, two weeks before the closure of the bridge, and will continue for six weeks excluding the week of Thanksgiving.

“We are proud to do this in partnership with our marine terminal operators, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union and the Harbor Trucking Association to minimize impacts to traffic and cargo flow,” Hacegaba said. “The Port of Long Beach will remain fully open and moving cargo with efficiency during the bridge closure next door.”

This incentive program is one of the proactive measures the Port of Long Beach is taking to ensure cargo continues to move efficiently, reliably and sustainably through the San Pedro Bay as Caltrans embarks on the 16-month deck replacement project for the Vincent Thomas Bridge on Nov. 7.