The Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) moved 10.2 million container units in 2025, marking the third‑highest volume in its 118‑year history and only the third time it has surpassed the 10‑million‑TEU threshold.

Executive Director Gene Seroka highlighted the milestone during the 11th annual State of the Port, noting the port’s continued run as the nation's busiest gateway.

"Every record set and every bar raised is a direct result of the dedication and commitment of the people who make this Port work," Seroka said. "Cargo remains the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. American farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers all depend on how well we move that cargo."

In anticipation of future cargo demand, Seroka laid out the port's investment priorities for 2026 and beyond — outlined on Port of LA's "Build Bigger and Build Smarter" framework focused on infrastructure, technology, community and the environment. 

Seroka highlighted key infrastructure projects under this initiative and in anticipation of future cargo volume increases. Among these is the proposed Pier 500 Marine Container Terminal, an expansion that would significantly increase the Port's overall cargo capacity. A Request for Proposals was issued by the Port in October to evaluate interest and feasibility of the proposed project.

"Pier 500 would be the first new container terminal to be developed at the Port in a generation," Seroka said. "We envision it to be the greenest, cleanest terminal in the world. It will be an investment in our workforce, sustainability, resilience and innovation—keeping us ready for the opportunities of tomorrow."

Other infrastructure projects highlighted by Seroka include the Maritime Support Facility, a dedicated hub on Terminal Island for chassis parking and container pick-up and drop-off; an expansion at Fenix Marine Services Terminal on Pier 300; and proposed wharf and rail upgrades at LA TiL Container Terminal in the West Basin.

Speaking to the need to "Build Smarter," Seroka reiterated the benefits of the port's continued investment in technology like the Port Optimizer™, Signal and Universal Truck Appointment System, all of which have helped Port partners better predict and manage cargo flow at the Port. An US$8 million California GO-Biz grant will extend the port's truck appointment system to terminals in neighboring Long Beach, as well as support enhanced data-sharing among five major container ports in the state.

The framework will also focus on building sustainably.

Seroka noted the port's latest emissions report showed that Port of LA achieved the lowest emissions ever on a per-TEU basis of any port in the world.

Upcoming projects are expected to help further those gains, including a Collaborative Agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to develop zero-emissions infrastructure. A $412 million EPA Clean Ports grant announced last year— coupled with US$230 million in non-federal funding—will also bring more zero-emission equipment to Port terminals in the future.

"All this environmental work—the record-low emissions, the groundbreaking agreement with AQMD, the projects on our terminals—is an essential part of our collective DNA," Seroka added. "No other port complex in the world is tackling these challenges at this pace and with this level of success. I thank all of you for being the partners to make this happen."

In 2024, the port handled a total of 10.3 million container units.