Name: Port of LA celebrates 2025 performance despite trade volatility
Uploaded: 2025-12-16T03:11:46.412Z
Duration: 3 min 38 s
Description: After a rollercoaster 2025 of rapidly shifting tariff policies that threatened multiple businesses that rely on shipping, the Port of Los Angeles is on track to have its third busiest year on record. Executive director Gene Seroka joins to discuss.

After a rollercoaster 2025 of rapidly shifting tariff policies that threatened multiple businesses that rely on shipping, the Port of Los Angeles is on track to have its third busiest year on record. Executive director Gene Seroka joins to discuss.

Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles is on track to achieve its third busiest year on record in 2025, despite a year marked by volatile trade policies and uncertainty for businesses. Executive Director Gene Siroka noted that rapidly changing tariffs led to unpredictable cargo volumes, with major retailers pulling inventory forward and smaller businesses struggling to manage higher costs.

Siroka highlighted a significant decline in trade with China, dropping from 60% to 40% of the port's business since 2018, as China invests in Southeast and South Asia. Looking ahead to 2026, Siroka anticipates a slight decrease in cargo volumes and points to ongoing challenges for American exporters and the potential impact of a Supreme Court case on tariffs.

Port of LA celebrates 2025 performance despite trade volatility

After a rollercoaster 2025 the Port of Los Angeles is on track to have its third busiest year on record That comes after rapidly shifting tariff policies threaten multiple businesses that rely on shipping seven months ago We spoke to Gene Sirocco the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles About the changes and the way that companies big and small are approaching inventory You had a run-up of inventory being pulled forward by some of the major retailers home improvement stores But not everybody can do that small to middle-sized folks We're kind of caught in the middle Don't have the wherewithal to be able to bring product in early and now do I buy at these super higher prices? and if I do can I pass on the cost to the consumer and Gene Sirocco joins us now Jean good to see you again. And despite all this changing policy This was your third busiest year on record. What do you attribute that to? a Good evening Lindsay, and it's almost like we talked about in May when hard policy came out importers slammed on the brakes Waiting for direction whether that be another announcement out of Washington in two hours two days or two months And then when that policy was softened and deadlines on trade negotiations extended Importers saw a window and did that cargo come through very fast? So in the end it was very unpredictable, but it was the story of our workforce Responding to all the ups and downs in moving that amount of cargo without one ship backed up and no congestion How have small and large businesses been navigating this? What are they telling you? It's been across the board, but also very similar to what we predicted We've heard now that the price of a new car has crossed the $50,000 mark in the United States for the first time the CEOs of major car companies have been saying that there are billions of dollars of tariff exposure and it's the small-to-medium size importer that seemingly had to dip into their savings to pay for these elevated cost of goods and Difficulty passing on those costs for fear of not being able to compete with the larger companies How was volume from China changed? Take you back to 2018 when this first trade policy came into play about 60% of our business with with China Today, it's 40% and dropping But I was in the country two times over the last several months and there for the announcement of the 15th five-year plan Where the China leadership said we're not only just exporting products. We're now exporting our manufacturing expertise China is investing in Southeast Asia and South Asia businesses and factories alike. Now, what pain points do you foresee in 2026? There are a lot of unknowns I think this year's cargo was elevated because of that advance of inventory and those windows of opportunity Next year will be down maybe single digits in cargo volume overall based on import volume But will the American farmer get back ramped up in selling their products? To China and other locations third countries have really taken that space Will the American consumers willingness to buy get stronger the latest consumer sentiment report said that we're pretty somber About the outlook in the future. And lastly what impact will the Supreme Court case on tariffs have to the importing community? And will that loosen up opportunities for exports? So overall, I don't see us falling off a cliff as a leading indicator of the u.s. Economy But there is upside if a few of these items go our way Gene Siroka always good to talk to you. Thank you

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