According to SeafoodNews, import volumes at the Port of Los Angeles fell 9% year-over-year in May and are expected to remain depressed through the rest of 2025.

The move came after companies canceled or suspended shipments in response to President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs on Chinese goods.

China is the largest supplier of seaborne goods to the United States, and the Port of Los Angeles is the top port for these imports.

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle 31% of U.S. ocean trade and are a barometer of U.S. economic activity.

The Port of Los Angeles handled the equivalent of 355,950 twenty-foot equivalent containers of import cargo in May. The Port of Long Beach has not yet released May data but predicts imports are down more than 10%.

The United States and China agreed to suspend mutual tariff increases for 90 days, and the United States also reduced tariffs on many Chinese goods from 145% to 30%.

Ocean freight company Maersk said in a recent customer notice that cargo volumes from China to the United States are rising since tariffs were adjusted to 30% on May 12.

Industry players remain pessimistic about the rest of the year as consumer demand is volatile and importers continue to face pressure from a 30 percent increase in the cost of goods from China.

Industry forecasts show that imports in 2025 will be lower than last year due to continued uncertainty over U.S. tariffs and the possibility of legal action.