Los Angeles / Long Beach
Container21
LOW CONGESTION
The LA/Long Beach complex handles ~40% of U.S. imports. Congestion directly impacts trans-Pacific freight rates and the earnings of carriers like ZIM and Matson (MATX). Prolonged backlogs lift shipping stocks; sudden clearance can signal demand weakness.
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Open full map ↗Tradeable Assets
How each asset relates to congestion at this port
Stocks
ZIM Integrated Shipping
Most volatile shipping stock · options-friendly · reacts within days of congestion news
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
Matson Inc
US-focused · cleaner pure-play on LA/LB specifically
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
C.H. Robinson
Freight broker · good supply chain stress proxy without direct shipping exposure
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
ETFs
Sievert Nautical ETF
Diversified shipping basket · lower volatility, lower risk than single names
$41.04
▼ 0.65%
Current Snapshot
128
Total Vessels
14
Anchored
11%
Anchored %
—
Avg Wait (hrs)
History
Congestion score · Vessel count (dashed) · ZIM price (purple)
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Signal History
LA Port Congestion Doubles: Bullish Signal for Shipping Stocks
Vessel count has surged 118% above the 7-day average with congestion scores spiking 76%, indicating severe bottlenecks at America's largest container gateway. This level of port stress historically drives trans-Pacific spot rates higher as carriers gain pricing power and shippers scramble for capacity. Container shipping equities like ZIM and MATX typically outperform during sustained congestion cycles.
Trade Idea
Consider long ZIM and MATX positions; congestion of this magnitude typically translates to elevated freight rates and improved carrier earnings within 2-4 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count up 118% vs 7-day avg (319 vs 147)
Congestion score up 76% vs 7-day avg (55 vs 31)
⚠ Signal invalidates if congestion clears rapidly due to demand destruction, labor resolution, or if surge reflects one-time inventory front-loading ahead of tariff changes.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Surge: Bullish for Shipping Stocks
Vessel count has surged 118% above the 7-day average with 96 ships at anchor, signaling a significant bottleneck at America's busiest container gateway. This level of congestion historically pressures trans-Pacific spot rates higher and boosts carrier earnings, particularly benefiting asset-light and trans-Pacific focused shippers like ZIM and Matson.
Trade Idea
Consider long ZIM or MATX positions; sustained LA/LB congestion typically drives freight rate increases within 2-4 weeks, lifting near-term carrier revenues.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count up 118% vs 7-day avg (319 vs 147)
Congestion score up 76% vs 7-day avg (55 vs 31)
⚠ Signal invalidates if congestion clears rapidly due to demand destruction, labor resolution, or if the surge reflects one-time inventory front-loading ahead of tariff deadlines.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Relief Signals Softening Freight Demand
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 40% versus its 7-day average, falling to just 23/100 with only 15 vessels at anchor out of 141 total. This rapid clearing suggests weakening import volumes or an unexpected demand pullback rather than improved throughput efficiency, which would typically unwind gradually. Lower congestion historically leads to declining trans-Pacific spot rates, pressuring carrier earnings and shipping-levered equities.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying puts on MATX, as rapidly easing port congestion tends to precede freight rate declines within 1-3 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 40% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal is invalidated if the congestion drop reflects a temporary lull ahead of a known peak-season cargo wave or new tariff front-loading, which would reverse the trend quickly.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Relief Signals Softening Shipping Demand
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 40% versus its 7-day average to just 24/100, with only 18 vessels at anchor out of 144 total — well below recent norms. This rapid easing suggests either a lull in inbound container volumes or accelerated terminal throughput, both of which reduce carriers' pricing power and point to softer trans-Pacific freight rates ahead. Historically, sudden congestion relief at this gateway has preceded 5-10% declines in spot container rates within 2-4 weeks.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as declining congestion typically leads to weaker freight rates and compressed carrier earnings guidance.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 40% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal could be invalidated by a sudden tariff-driven front-loading surge, peak-season restocking pull-forward, or supply-side disruptions (e.g., labor actions or diversions) that quickly rebuild the queue.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Plunges: Bearish Signal for Shipping Stocks
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 44% versus its 7-day average to just 23/100, with only 16 vessels anchored out of 140 total. This rapid clearing of backlogs suggests softening import demand or excess carrier capacity, both of which pressure trans-Pacific freight rates downward and weigh on shipping carrier earnings. The pattern is consistent with a demand-side cooldown rather than operational efficiency gains, given the magnitude of the single-week decline.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying puts on MATX, as falling congestion typically leads declining spot freight rates by 1-2 weeks, compressing carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 44% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal would be invalidated if the congestion relief is driven by a temporary lull (e.g., holiday shipping gap or pre-tariff pull-forward exhaustion) followed by a near-term import surge.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Relief Signals Weakening Import Demand
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 43% versus its 7-day average, falling to just 24/100 with only 16 vessels at anchor out of 145 total. This sharp easing suggests either a meaningful pullback in trans-Pacific import volumes or a rapid clearing of backlogs, both of which point to softening freight rates and reduced near-term earnings power for container carriers. The speed of the decline—rather than a gradual normalization—raises concern about underlying demand weakness rather than mere operational efficiency gains.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying puts, as rapid congestion relief typically leads trans-Pacific spot rates lower within 1-2 weeks, compressing carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 43% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal could be invalidated if the congestion drop reflects a temporary lull between seasonal shipping waves or if new tariff front-running triggers a sudden volume surge in the coming days.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Plunges: Bearish Signal for Shipping Stocks
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 52% versus its 7-day average, falling to just 21/100 with only 12 vessels at anchor out of 136 total. This rapid congestion relief suggests weakening import demand or an oversupply of vessel capacity on the trans-Pacific trade lane, both of which pressure spot freight rates downward and erode carrier earnings. Container shipping names levered to trans-Pacific trade are most exposed to margin compression.
Trade Idea
Consider short or put positions on ZIM, as rapidly clearing congestion typically leads freight rate declines within 1-2 weeks, compressing carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 52% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal would be invalidated if the congestion drop reflects a temporary lull (e.g., pre-holiday pause or weather catch-up) rather than a structural demand slowdown, or if new tariff front-loading drives a sudden import surge.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Plunges: Bearish Signal for Shipping Stocks
LA/Long Beach congestion score has dropped 48% versus its 7-day average to just 23/100, with only 16 vessels anchored out of 142 total. This rapid clearing of the backlog suggests softening import demand or excess capacity, both of which put downward pressure on trans-Pacific spot freight rates and carrier earnings. Historically, sudden congestion relief at this gateway has preceded declines in container shipping equities within 1-3 weeks.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as easing congestion typically leads spot freight rates lower, compressing near-term carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Congestion score down 48% vs 7-day avg
⚠ A sudden tariff announcement, pre-season inventory restocking surge, or Asian port disruption could quickly reverse congestion trends and invalidate the bearish thesis.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Congestion Collapse Signals Demand Weakness for Shippers
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has dropped 36% below its 7-day average while the congestion score has fallen 52%, indicating a rapid clearing of the port backlog. This combination suggests weakening trans-Pacific import demand rather than operational efficiency gains, which would pressure spot freight rates and carrier earnings. Falling throughput at the nation's largest container gateway is a leading indicator of softer consumer import volumes and declining shipping margins.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as rapidly declining port congestion typically leads spot container rates lower within 2-4 weeks, compressing carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 36% vs 7-day avg (122 vs 190)
Congestion score down 52% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal would be invalidated if the vessel count drop reflects a temporary weather diversion, labor action, or a brief holiday lull rather than a structural demand decline—watch for a rebound in the next 5-7 days.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Rapid Clearance Signals Demand Weakness for Shippers
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has dropped 36% versus its 7-day average, while the congestion score has fallen 53%, indicating a sharp and sudden clearing of the port. For the largest U.S. container gateway, this level of decongestion suggests either a meaningful pullback in trans-Pacific import volumes or a demand air pocket, both of which pressure spot freight rates and carrier earnings. Historically, rapid congestion relief without a known seasonal or weather driver points to softening trade flows rather than improved efficiency.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying near-term puts — falling congestion typically leads spot trans-Pacific rates lower within 1-2 weeks, compressing carrier margins.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 36% vs 7-day avg (127 vs 197)
Congestion score down 53% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal is invalidated if the vessel count drop is driven by a temporary scheduling gap, port maintenance closure, or if upcoming tariff deadlines are front-loading cargo that will arrive in the next wave.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Rapid Clearing Signals Demand Weakness for Shippers
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has dropped 36% versus the 7-day average, with congestion scores falling 55%. This sharp decongestion suggests a meaningful pullback in inbound container volumes rather than mere operational efficiency, pointing to softening trans-Pacific import demand. Lower throughput and easing backlogs typically compress spot freight rates and weigh on carrier earnings.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as rapid congestion relief historically leads to declining Drewry WCI spot rates within 1-3 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 36% vs 7-day avg (130 vs 204)
Congestion score down 55% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal is invalidated if the drop reflects a temporary holiday/weather disruption rather than true demand erosion, or if a sudden inventory restocking wave reverses the trend.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Clears Fast: Bearish Signal for Shipping Stocks
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has plunged 41% versus its 7-day average, with congestion dropping 62%, indicating a sharp and sudden demand drawdown at the nation's busiest container gateway. Rapid port clearance of this magnitude typically signals weakening import volumes, which compresses trans-Pacific spot rates and erodes carrier earnings power. With only 9 vessels at anchor and a congestion score of just 19/100, the pricing leverage that supported elevated freight rates has evaporated.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying puts on MATX, as collapsing port congestion foreshadows declining trans-Pacific freight rates and downward earnings revisions within 2-4 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 41% vs 7-day avg (124 vs 211)
Congestion score down 62% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal would be invalidated if the vessel drop reflects a temporary scheduling gap, a holiday lull, or trade policy shifts (e.g., new tariff front-loading) that could trigger a sharp rebound in arrivals.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Clearing Fast: Bearish Signal for Shipping Stocks
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has plunged 43% below its 7-day average while the congestion score dropped 61%, signaling a rapid clearing of the port backlog. This degree of simultaneous relief typically reflects weakening inbound cargo demand or a sharp pull-forward of imports that has now exhausted, both of which point to falling trans-Pacific spot freight rates and downward pressure on carrier earnings.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as the rapid congestion unwind historically leads spot container rates lower within 1-3 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 43% vs 7-day avg (125 vs 218)
Congestion score down 61% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal is invalidated if the vessel drop is caused by a temporary weather event, labor action, or holiday scheduling rather than a genuine demand decline — monitor incoming bookings and Drewry WCI for confirmation.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Traffic Plummets: Bearish Signal for Shipping
Vessel count at LA/Long Beach has dropped 46% versus the 7-day average, with the congestion score collapsing 64%. This dramatic simultaneous decline suggests a sharp falloff in trans-Pacific cargo demand rather than simple operational efficiency gains, pointing to weakening U.S. import volumes that would pressure container freight rates and carrier earnings.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying puts on MATX as the demand vacuum at the nation's busiest port complex typically foreshadows softer trans-Pacific rates within 2-4 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 46% vs 7-day avg (122 vs 225)
Congestion score down 64% vs 7-day avg
⚠ This signal would be invalidated if the drop is explained by a temporary disruption (labor action, weather diversion, or holiday-related scheduling gap) rather than genuine demand erosion, or if vessels are simply rerouting to alternate ports.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Vessel Plunge Signals Demand Weakness for Shippers
A dramatic 44% drop in vessel count and 59% decline in congestion score at LA/Long Beach suggest a sharp falloff in trans-Pacific cargo arrivals. With the port processing vessels faster than new ones arrive, this points to weakening import demand or diversion of trade flows, both of which pressure container freight rates and carrier earnings. This pattern is historically associated with declining Drewry WCI spot rates in the following 2-4 weeks.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or buying ZIM puts, as collapsing port throughput typically leads trans-Pacific spot rate declines by 2-3 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 44% vs 7-day avg (129 vs 232)
Congestion score down 59% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal could be invalidated if the vessel drop is due to a temporary weather event, labor action, or if vessels are staging offshore awaiting a tariff deadline, which would precede a sudden congestion surge.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Clears Out: Demand Weakness Hits Shipping
Vessel count has dropped 47% below the 7-day average with congestion relief of 63%, signaling a sharp decline in import activity at America's busiest container gateway. This sudden clearance pattern historically indicates weakening consumer demand or inventory destocking by importers, which pressures trans-Pacific freight rates and carrier earnings.
Trade Idea
Consider short positions or put spreads on ZIM as rapid congestion relief typically precedes 15-20% rate corrections within 4-6 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 47% vs 7-day avg (124 vs 234)
Congestion score down 63% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal invalidated if drop reflects temporary weather/labor disruptions or if upcoming Q2 peak season restocking reverses vessel flow quickly.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Vessel Surge Signals Shipping Rate Upside
A 36% spike in vessel count at LA/Long Beach (319 vs 234 7-day avg) indicates significant congestion building at America's top container gateway. With 109 vessels at anchor and a congestion score of 57/100, this backlog typically pressures trans-Pacific spot rates higher and boosts carrier revenues within 2-4 weeks.
Trade Idea
Consider long ZIM or MATX equity/calls as prolonged congestion historically lifts container shipping rates and carrier earnings guidance.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count up 36% vs 7-day avg (319 vs 234)
⚠ Signal invalidated if vessel count normalizes rapidly, indicating demand destruction or inventory destocking rather than genuine throughput stress.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Vessel Surge Signals Bullish Setup for Carriers
A 36% spike in vessel count at LA/Long Beach indicates significant congestion building, with 109 vessels at anchor. This backlog typically pressures trans-Pacific spot rates higher within 2-3 weeks as carriers gain pricing power and importers scramble for capacity. The moderate congestion score of 57 suggests room for further deterioration before intervention.
Trade Idea
Consider long ZIM and MATX on expectation that sustained congestion will drive Q2 freight rate increases and beat consensus estimates.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count up 36% vs 7-day avg (319 vs 234)
⚠ Signal invalidates if congestion clears rapidly due to demand destruction or if vessel surge reflects one-time inventory front-loading ahead of tariff changes.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Clears Out: Demand Weakness Signal for Shippers
Vessel count has plunged 51% below the 7-day average while congestion dropped 66%, indicating a sharp decline in import activity at America's busiest container gateway. This rapid clearing typically signals weakening consumer demand or front-loaded inventory cycles, which compresses trans-Pacific freight rates and pressures carrier earnings. With only 10 vessels anchored and a congestion score of just 19/100, pricing power shifts away from shipping lines.
Trade Idea
Consider short ZIM or put spreads on MATX as freight rate erosion typically follows port clearance within 2-4 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 51% vs 7-day avg (119 vs 241)
Congestion score down 66% vs 7-day avg
⚠ Signal invalidated if vessel count rebounds sharply due to delayed Asia sailings or sudden restocking surge ahead of tariff deadlines.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only
LA Port Vessel Collapse Signals Demand Weakness Ahead
The 49% drop in vessel count versus the 7-day average suggests a significant pullback in trans-Pacific cargo flow, likely indicating weakening import demand or upstream supply chain disruptions. The unusually high 85% anchored ratio among remaining vessels points to operational paralysis rather than healthy throughput, which typically pressures shipping rates and carrier earnings.
Trade Idea
Consider short positions or put options on ZIM as declining vessel arrivals typically precede freight rate deterioration within 2-4 weeks.
Affected Assets
ZIM
$26.70
▲ 0.64%
closed
MATX
$170.50
▼ 1.15%
closed
CHRW
$168.08
▲ 1.92%
closed
Triggered By
Vessel count down 49% vs 7-day avg (124 vs 244)
85% of vessels anchored — potential floating storage buildup or port backlog
⚠ Signal invalidated if vessel drop reflects temporary weather disruption, holiday scheduling, or imminent surge from rerouted Asia-Mexico traffic.
AI-generated pattern analysis · Not financial advice · Not produced by a licensed analyst · For informational purposes only