Trade Reports

In June, total trade through the state’s ports was up 5.6% in nominal terms from the prior month and 14.9% from June 2025 as imports continued to surge, though total trade remained little changed in real terms.

In May, total trade through California’s ports remained well above 2025 levels (+12.9%), though the state’s share of US exports kept slipping and is now at risk of falling to 3rd place. Destination imports surged $7.3 billion (19.2%) over the year as retailers pulled holiday shipments forward to get ahead of tariffs.

Total trade through California’s ports remained strong in April 2026, with the state’s share of total US goods trade rising for a fourth straight month to 16.92%. California origin exports were up 7.7% from a year earlier and destination imports rose 11.5%.

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy, visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Total trade through the state’s ports in the first quarter was little changed compared to the same period in […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy, visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Reflecting the Lunar New Year holiday, total trade through the state’s ports dropped $9.0 billion (-11.5%) from January, but […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy, visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Trade activity through the state’s ports took a dip in January, with total export and import flows down 3.5% […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. With the December numbers in, California posted new records for trade through the state’s ports measured in both nominal […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Although the trade numbers softened in November, total trade flows through the state’s ports remained on track to post […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Trade through the state’s ports picked up in October compared to the prior month, led by a surge in […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Reflecting levels typically seen in September as tariff-induced and holiday related surges eased, total trade through the state’s ports […]

Total trade through the state’s ports in July rose 11.1% compared to June and 3.9% compared to July 2024, reversing the small dips seen in the prior two months. State origin exports continued their rise for every month so far in 2025 (comparing same month, prior year) at a gain of 5.9%, while destination imports again saw a loss, at 4.6%.

Trade statistics in June again were buffeted by tariff policy shifts. Nationally, the goods and services trade deficit fell 16.0% as exports eased more slowly (-0.5%) than imports (-3.7%).

The trade statistics in May once again reflect more shifts in policy around tariffs rather than economic fundamentals. Nationally, the trade deficit rose over the previous month as exports slowed more than imports, but imports remained well below recent months due to the steep variations in pre-tariff surges.

Overall, the national trade deficit declined substantially, with goods and services exports up $8.3 billion from March and imports dropping after the recent goods surges by $68.4 billion. These results, however, indicate much of the goods movement in recent months reflects acceleration of shipments that otherwise would have occurred in April and the upcoming months.

Trade flows in the first two months of 2025 were heavily affected by two factors: accelerated inventory shipments in an effort to stay ahead of the recently imposed tariffs and the annual shifts due to the Chinese New Year holiday in China, which this year straddled both January and February. Total trade through the state’s ports in the first two months was up 14.9% from the same period in 2024 in nominal terms, and up 12.7% in real terms. Both measures represent a new high in trade activity.