Due to labour disruptions at U.S. East Coast ports and a surge in retail orders ahead of the holiday season, the twin Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have recorded their busiest quarters ever, achieving all-time highs for September. In September, Long Beach saw its busiest month to date, handling 829,499 TEU—just slightly above the previous record of 829,429 TEU set in the same month last year. August was even busier, with an unprecedented total of over 910,000 TEU. Despite the high volume, officials emphasize that the port still has plenty of capacity to meet the demand for East Asian consumer goods. In September, loaded import containers—primarily from transpacific trade lanes—accounted for more than half of Long Beach's volume, while loaded exports made up just over 10 percent. Full import and outbound empty containers contributed significantly to the port's performance gains, rising 25 percent and 30 percent year-on-year, respectively, while loaded exports decreased by 12 percent. Next door, the Port of Los Angeles handled a record 954,706 TEU in September, marking a 27% increase from the previous year and a total of 2,854,904 TEU for the last three months. Year-to-date, the Port of Los Angeles has seen an 18% increase in volume compared to the same period last year. Strong consumer confidence is a key factor driving performance at the San Pedro Bay ports, and it remains robust in the U.S. The National Retail Federation projects that winter holiday spending could rise by up to 3.5% this year, nearing a trillion dollars, thanks to a solid economy.