The Port of Los Angeles is poised to log its third-busiest year on record in 2025, even as November cargo volumes slipped amid rising tariff uncertainty. The port handled 782,249 TEUs in November, down 12% year-over-year, but still lifted year-to-date throughput to 9.45 million TEUs, putting it on track to surpass 10 million TEUs for the year without congestion or vessel backlogs. Executive Director Gene Seroka credited strong coordination among terminals, railroads, truckers, and longshore labor for maintaining fluid operations as demand cooled. The November decline reflects broader tariff-driven softness across U.S. ports, with imports frontloaded earlier in the year and now tapering off as retailers work through well-stocked inventories. Forecasts now call for 2025 U.S. container imports of 25.2 million TEUs, down 1.4% from 2024, with sharper declines expected in early 2026, even as NRF projects record holiday sales exceeding $1 trillion—underscoring a growing disconnect between resilient consumer spending and softer import flows. Industry analysts say tariff policy will continue to shape port volumes well into 2026, pressuring cargo even as operational performance at major gateways like Los Angeles remains strong.