The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach combine to make our sea ports complex the largest in the Western Hemisphere, handling over 40% of all inbound containers for the entire United States. Over time, a sophisticated and mature logistics economy has developed around these ports, including high-capacity rail networks, endless warehousing and distribution options, and businesses that have located in L.A. County to leverage this infrastructure. Over 160,000 workers in L.A. County alone support the international trade sector.
Sea Ports
With over 15 million twenty foot equivalent (TEU) containers processed in 2013, the twin ports complex is one of the busiest ports complexes in the world, and can handle the largest container ships in the world. Both the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles have continued to modernize, adding robotics and other innovative container movement systems, dredging canals to support the deepest of drafts, dramatically reducing air pollution, and protecting our regional market advantages as container volumes rise. The LAEDC predicts rapid growth in container volume for the 2014-2018 period, and the ports are prepared. Combined, the Ports of LA and Long Beach handled 113,532 metric tons of international goods in 2013.
Map of Sea Ports
Rail
With a strong port infrastructure, main rail lines for both the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads ensure efficient movement to and from the ports. Many rail cars utilize the Alameda Corridor, a 20-mile-long rail cargo expressway linking the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to the transcontinental rail network near downtown Los Angeles. In addition, an excellent freeway and highway system allows multimodal transport and efficient origination for cross-country delivery.
