Overview

• The U.S.–China 90-day tariff truce reduced import duties on Chinese goods to 30%, but West Coast ports have yet to see a significant surge in freight activity.
• The Port of Los Angeles expects May cargo volumes to drop by over 10%, with only a slight uptick in Asian bookings linked to pre-tariff stockpiles rather than new orders.
• The Port of Oakland reported a 14.7% decline in April container volumes and anticipates similar levels in May due to ongoing trade uncertainty and high tariffs.
• During the first half of May, 74 container ships arrived at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, 11 fewer than usual, underscoring a substantial year-over-year traffic decline.
• Port executives project a strong recovery in June as paused tariffs allow the release of cargo backlogs from Chinese warehouses, potentially stabilizing trade flows.