Port of Long Beach officials reported lower cargo volume in the month of August, due in part to higher tariffs by the United States and China.

Container volumes at the Port of Long Beach were 1.9 percent lower in August compared to the same month the year before, according to the port’s latest figures.

Officials noted, however, that August 2017 was one of the busiest months in the Port of Long Beach’s 107-year history. And, so far in 2018, cargo volumes are 9 percent higher than the first eight months of 2017.

Last month’s dip in volume can be attributed in part to the formation of new ocean-carrier alliances, in which carrier companies agree to certain conditions to stabilize the rates to ship goods.

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero also attributed the decrease to tariffs between China and the U.S. The threat of tariffs initially boosted shipping as companies sought to beat duties imposed on goods this summer, Cordero said in a statement.

Since March, the U.S. has applied new tariffs of up to 25 percent on nearly $85 billion worth of steel and aluminum and various Chinese products, mostly goods used in manufacturing.

A recent Associated Press analysis found up to 10 percent of all imports at ports across the U.S. could be hit by higher tariffs if the Trump Administration’s proposals take full effect.

The president has argued that the tariffs will help protect American workers and force U.S. trading partners to change rules that the president insists are unfair.

The Port of Long Beach handles $194 billion in trade annually. For more detailed cargo numbers, go to www.polb.com/stats.