The dwell time of rail containers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (LA/LB) has increased to 6.75 days, marking the highest level this year and the longest dwell time in the past 12 months. This increase from 6.34 days in July reflects sustained consumer demand and early shipments for the holidays.
Increase in Container Volumes
The ports of Los Angeles experienced the busiest period in their history over the past three months, managing over 2.9 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in June, July, and August. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the extended peak season continues, and the final increase this month is expected to make September the busiest month of the year for import volumes.
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Challenges and Economic Impacts
Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, points to existing challenges, stating, "Imports have remained steady over the past three months despite multiple challenges, including rising tariffs and inflation. Retail sales are strong, and goods are moving relatively smoothly, although there are reports of delays in ships and increased times for moving goods in the supply chain."
The National Retail Federation notes that it recently seemed that the volume of 2.24 million TEU in May would be the busiest month of 2026, but high import levels have pushed the peak season into its traditional times in late summer and early fall.
Forecasts suggest a decrease in import volumes in October and November, indicating a drop in demand.
Juda Levin, head of research at the online freight platform Freightos, states that even with declining demand, congestion at Asian ports has kept upward pressure on container rates from Asia to the United States. He says, "Congestion at the port and also empty trips during the holidays could keep rates elevated, even if demand decreases."
Container ships and container shipping costs are crucial for the chemical industry, as while most chemicals are transported in liquid form and in tankers, container ships carry polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) that are transported in granule form. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is also transported in containers.
Improvement in Truck Dwell Times
PMSA data shows that the dwell time for trucked loads through marine terminals decreased to 2.95 days in August 2026, a slight decrease from July, remaining stable at around three days over the past year.
Road transport is the dominant method of transporting chemicals domestically, accounting for about 60 percent of the shipped volume. Trucking typically incurs lower costs compared to other methods and offers greater flexibility.
Some chemical companies have their own fleets of trucks, while others use third-party trucking companies.
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