The Port of Los Angeles has just reported its busiest month in two years and the highest container handling numbers for July ever recorded. The Port of Los Angeles, a crucial gateway on the US West Coast, managed a record-breaking 939,600 TEU in July, reflecting a significant 37% increase from the same month in 2023. This impressive volume set a new all-time high for container handling in July. Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of LA, attributed the surge to an earlier-than-usual influx of year-end holiday goods. In a video briefing, Seroka noted that importers are adjusting their strategies due to disruptions in the Red Sea and ongoing labour negotiations on the East Coast, leading them to act with greater caution and advance their shipments. Talks between US East Coast port employers, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have reached an impasse with the existing labour contract expiring on 30 September. The ILA has filed a 60-day strike notice and says it is preparing for strike from Maine to Texas from 1 October if a new contract is not agreed. Additionally dock workers on the Canadian West Coast have been voting on possible strike action.