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Long Beach Ties SE Asia Growth to Rail Investment

[ September 18, 2026   //   ]

The Port of Long Beach is pointing to growing trade with Southeast Asia as another reason to expand on-dock rail capacity, as Vietnam has become the port’s second-largest trading partner behind China.

CEO Noel Hacegaba said shifting sourcing and manufacturing patterns are increasing the importance of the port’s Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, arguing that faster inland connections can help offset longer ocean transit times from Southeast Asian origins.

“Speed to market is the key to our success and rail connectivity is the key to our future,” Hacegaba said during a Sept. 16 media briefing.

Long Beach plans to double annual container capacity to 20 million TEU by 2050 and is investing US$3.3 billion in infrastructure over the next decade, with Pier B its largest current construction project.

The port also reported its busiest August on record, handling 919,992 TEUs, up 2 percent from August 2025. Imports increased 3.6 percent to 456,100 TEUs and exports rose 4 percent to 99,754 TEUs, while empties declined 0.4 percent to 364,138 TEUs.

Through August, Long Beach handled 6.68 million TEUs, up 1.3 percent year over year.

Hacegaba attributed the August record partly to tariff-related frontloading and restrictions at the Panama Canal.

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