Los Angeles / Long Beach
Container35
MED 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.
Live Vessel Traffic
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
$29.19
▼ 0.65%
Matson Inc
US-focused · cleaner pure-play on LA/LB specifically
$224.66
▼ 0.07%
C.H. Robinson
Freight broker · good supply chain stress proxy without direct shipping exposure
$147.10
▲ 0.62%
ETFs
SonicShares Global Shipping ETF
Diversified shipping basket · lower volatility, lower risk than single names
$50.92
▼ 0.74%
Current Snapshot
74
Total Vessels
6
Anchored
8%
Anchored %
3.5
Avg Dwell (hrs)
Vessel Types
18th percentile vs the last 30 days — unusually clear for this port
Freight Fundamentals
Baltic Dry · shipping equities · liveBaltic Dry Index
—
global dry-bulk freight
Rising = tighter shipping capacity, bullish for carriers. Falling = slack freight demand.
Shipping Equities
-0.21%
4-name avg · today
The equity market's read on freight conditions. Congestion at this port can lead carrier earnings and freight rates, often over a 5–10 day horizon.
History
Congestion score · grey band = 7d normal range · Vessel count (dashed) · ZIM price (purple)
Lead-lag: over the last 30 days, LA / Long Beach congestion led ZIM by 1 day · r = -0.41 (moderate inverse) · 12-day sample, directional not predictive
Port Throughput
38
Currently in port
162
Completed calls
3.5h
Avg dwell time
| Vessel | Class | Arrived | Departed | Dwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC NELA | container | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| SEAWAYS CAPE HENRY | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| V.A. SAN PEDRO | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| DREAM ON | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| SUN SPIRIT | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| PEGASUS VOYAGER | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 2h |
| CHIRON | other | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 3h |
| NEWPORT FLYER | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 3h |
| COSCO EUROPE | container | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 3h |
| MRC LIVA | unknown | 2026-09-27 | 2026-09-27 | 3h |
Signal History
7d ago
Los Angeles Congestion Relief: Bearish container shipping
Los Angeles / Long Beach shows Congestion score 30 is 1.8σ below same-hour baseline (avg 57). This typically leads container shipping markets by 5-10 days, supporting a bearish read on ZIM (currently $30.1, +1.8% 5d).
Triggered By
Congestion score 30 is 1.8σ below same-hour baseline (avg 57)
Trade Idea
Short ZIM (currently $30.1, +1.8% 5d) while congestion holds below 30 for 2+ consecutive polls; target a 1-2 weeks hold as port data typically leads container shipping by ~5-10 days.
Any prices referenced are as of the signal time (7d ago) — check the live tape before acting.
Entry
Congestion holds below 30 for 2+ consecutive polls
Invalidation
congestionScore reverts toward baseline (57) within 48h, or ZIM rises above $31
Horizon
1-2 weeks
Affected Assets
ZIM
$29.19
▼ 0.65%
closed
MATX
$224.66
▼ 0.07%
closed
CHRW
$147.10
▲ 0.62%
closed
BOAT
$50.92
▼ 0.74%
closed
SEA
—
⚠ A broad risk-off move or weakening import demand could override this port-level signal.
Systematic signal · rule-based engine
23d ago
Los Angeles Congestion Spike: Bullish container shipping
Los Angeles / Long Beach shows Congestion score 100 is 3σ above same-hour baseline (avg 50). This typically leads container shipping markets by 5-10 days, supporting a bullish read on ZIM (currently $27.595, -0.2% 5d).
Triggered By
Congestion score 100 is 3σ above same-hour baseline (avg 50)
Trade Idea
Long ZIM (currently $27.595, -0.2% 5d) while congestion holds above 100 for 2+ consecutive polls; target a 1-2 weeks hold as port data typically leads container shipping by ~5-10 days.
Any prices referenced are as of the signal time (23d ago) — check the live tape before acting.
Entry
Congestion holds above 100 for 2+ consecutive polls
Invalidation
congestionScore reverts toward baseline (50) within 48h, or ZIM falls below $26.77
Horizon
1-2 weeks
Affected Assets
ZIM
$29.19
▼ 0.65%
closed
MATX
$224.66
▼ 0.07%
closed
CHRW
$147.10
▲ 0.62%
closed
BOAT
$50.92
▼ 0.74%
closed
SEA
—
⚠ A broad risk-off move or weakening import demand could override this port-level signal.
Systematic signal · rule-based engine
24d ago
Los Angeles Vessel Drop: Bearish container shipping
Los Angeles / Long Beach shows Vessel count 46 is 1.8σ below same-hour baseline (avg 61). This typically leads container shipping markets by 5-10 days, supporting a bearish read on ZIM (currently $27.01, -4.8% 5d). Note: the asset has already moved in this direction over the past week, so part of the move may be priced in.
Triggered By
Vessel count 46 is 1.8σ below same-hour baseline (avg 61)
Trade Idea
Short ZIM (currently $27.01, -4.8% 5d) while vessel count holds below 46 into the next poll; target a 1-2 weeks hold as port data typically leads container shipping by ~5-10 days.
Any prices referenced are as of the signal time (24d ago) — check the live tape before acting.
Entry
Vessel count holds below 46 into the next poll
Invalidation
vesselCount reverts toward baseline (61) within 48h, or ZIM rises above $27.82
Horizon
1-2 weeks
Affected Assets
ZIM
$29.19
▼ 0.65%
closed
MATX
$224.66
▼ 0.07%
closed
CHRW
$147.10
▲ 0.62%
closed
BOAT
$50.92
▼ 0.74%
closed
SEA
—
⚠ Much of the move may already be priced in. A broad risk-off move or weakening import demand could override this port-level signal.
Systematic signal · rule-based engine
27d ago
Los Angeles Vessel Drop: Bearish container shipping
Los Angeles / Long Beach shows Vessel count 46 is 1.9σ below same-hour baseline (avg 64). This typically leads container shipping markets by 5-10 days, supporting a bearish read on ZIM (currently $27.44, -2.9% 5d).
Triggered By
Vessel count 46 is 1.9σ below same-hour baseline (avg 64)
Trade Idea
Short ZIM (currently $27.44, -2.9% 5d) while vessel count holds below 46 into the next poll; target a 1-2 weeks hold as port data typically leads container shipping by ~5-10 days.
Any prices referenced are as of the signal time (27d ago) — check the live tape before acting.
Entry
Vessel count holds below 46 into the next poll
Invalidation
vesselCount reverts toward baseline (64) within 48h, or ZIM rises above $28.26
Horizon
1-2 weeks
Affected Assets
ZIM
$29.19
▼ 0.65%
closed
MATX
$224.66
▼ 0.07%
closed
CHRW
$147.10
▲ 0.62%
closed
BOAT
$50.92
▼ 0.74%
closed
SEA
—
⚠ A broad risk-off move or weakening import demand could override this port-level signal.
Systematic signal · rule-based engine
About Los Angeles / Long Beach
Why does Los Angeles / Long Beach port congestion matter for traders?
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.
Which stocks, futures, and ETFs are correlated with Los Angeles / Long Beach?
HarborSignal tracks ZIM, MATX, CHRW, BOAT against Los Angeles / Long Beach vessel activity. Port flows tend to lead these markets by roughly 5–10 days.
How is Los Angeles / Long Beach congestion measured?
Vessel positions are collected hourly from AIS transponder data. A congestion score is derived from vessel count and the anchored ratio, then z-scored against a 30-day same-hour baseline to flag anomalies.