Port of Long Beach Maps Path to Doubling Cargo by 2050

Riding the momentum of another record-setting year, the Port of Long Beach is laying out an ambitious long-term plan to double its cargo throughput by 2050.

The port handled nearly 9.9 million containers in 2025, according to Chief Executive Officer Noel Hacegaba, who delivered his first State of the Port address this week. A new forecast projects annual volume climbing to 20 million containers by mid-century, cementing Long Beach’s role as a critical pillar of the nation’s busiest import gateway alongside the Port of Los Angeles.

“We have 24 years to prepare to double our container throughput and determine how to move that additional cargo quickly, safely, efficiently, and sustainably,” Hacegaba said. “Thinking big and planning ahead are essential to our collective success. Speed to market is the key to our success, and rail connectivity is the key to our future.”

Rail investment remains central to that strategy. The San Pedro Bay port complex is served by two major Class I railroads and the Alameda Belt Railway, providing access to inland markets. A proposed merger involving major rail carriers could further extend the ports’ reach into the Midwest and East Coast.

A cornerstone of Long Beach’s infrastructure push is the $1.8 billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, scheduled for completion in 2032. Designed to move containers from ship to train in under 24 hours, the project is expected to triple on-dock rail capacity to 4.7 million TEUs annually.

Environmental goals are also front and center. Long Beach continues to advance plans for what would be the world’s first conventional, zero-emissions container terminal. The proposed Metro Express Terminal at Pier S would handle up to 1.8 million TEUs per year, supporting express vessel services with human-operated, renewable-energy-powered cargo equipment.

On the digital front, the port is leveraging its CargoNav platform—developed from the Supply Chain Information Highway initiative—to improve shipment visibility, forecast trade flows, and optimize operations. The tool will soon incorporate a Universal Truck Appointment System, partially funded by the state, allowing motor carriers to schedule pickups and drop-offs across all six marine terminals, with future expansion planned to include Los Angeles.

Long Beach processed nearly 49% of all cargo moving through the San Pedro Bay in 2025, a share that is expected to continue growing. Total volume reached 9,881,595 TEUs, up 2.4% from the previous record set in 2024. Imports rose modestly, while exports declined amid ongoing trade uncertainty tied to U.S.–China relations. Empty container volumes also increased year over year.

Operationally, 2025 marked another milestone: five of the port’s six container terminals each handled more than 1 million TEUs, with two surpassing the 2 million TEU mark. It was the third time the port exceeded 9 million containers, coming within a handful of vessels of reaching the 10 million mark.

Looking ahead, Hacegaba expects 2026 to remain busy, shaped by evolving trade policies, tariff adjustments, and shifts in global manufacturing. Volumes are projected to exceed 9 million TEUs again, positioning the year among the port’s five busiest on record.

Source: www.freightwaves.com