Official data indicates that total container throughput in May reached 716,619 TEUs, a 5% decrease year-on-year. Notably, import containers totaled only 355,950 TEUs, representing a 9% decrease from the same period last year and a steep 19% drop compared to April, marking the largest month-on-month decrease since early 2023. Exports also fell by 5%, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka commented “May was our weakest month for cargo volume in over two years. Without comprehensive, long-term trade agreements, consumers may face higher prices and fewer product choices during the upcoming holiday season.”
The most significant impact on import flows stems from elevated U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods with certain items facing duties as high as 145%. Amid a lack of clarity on when trade tensions might ease, importers have adopted a cautious approach, significantly delaying or reducing shipments to the U.S.
Additionally, the decline in container traffic has directly impacted the Southern California economy. The average number of daily ship calls dropped to five, down sharply from the pre-decline average of 12 per day. This has resulted in nearly a 50% reduction in labor demand, severely affecting employment in the local logistics and maritime transport sectors.
Transportation experts forecast that cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles may continue to languish during the summer months if tariff barriers remain unresolved. Although some duties have been temporarily adjusted to 30%, analysts warn that the impact on consumer prices and logistics costs will persist. Ernie Tedeschi, Chief Economist at Yale Budget Lab, estimates that the new tariffs are driving up consumer prices by approximately 1.5%, costing U.S. households nearly $2,500 in annual purchasing power, with low-income groups hit hardest.
The decline in cargo throughput at the Port of Los Angeles, which handles over 20% of the U.S.’s containerized import value, serves as a warning signal for global supply chains. Amid mounting international trade barriers, stable tariff policies and long-term trade agreements are seen as critical to revitalizing logistics activity and sustaining growth momentum in the second half of 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
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