Business, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Port of Long Beach 2050 Vision: 20 Million TEUs

[ January 28, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Port of Long Beach plans to double its annual container capacity to 20 million TEUs by 2050 after posting a record year in 2025, CEO Noel Hacegaba said at his first State of the Port address, Jan. 15.

The port moved 9.88 million twenty-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs last year, up 2.4 percent from 2024 and just short of 10 million TEUs, with no major backlogs or delays. A newly released forecast projects volume will reach 20 million TEUs annually by mid-century.

“We have 24 years to prepare to double our container throughput,” Hacegaba said, citing the need to expand rail capacity, terminal infrastructure and digital systems. “Speed to market is the key to our success and rail connectivity is the key to our future.”

Central to the expansion plan is the US$1.8 billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, scheduled for completion in 2032. The project is expected to triple on-dock rail volume to 4.7 million TEUs annually and reduce transfer times from ships to trains to less than 24 hours.

The port is also advancing plans for a zero-emissions container terminal at Pier S that could handle up to 1.8 million TEUs annually, pending approvals. The terminal would use electric, renewable-powered cargo-handling equipment.

Digital systems are another focus. The port plans to expand its CargoNav visibility platform and add a universal truck appointment system to coordinate pickups and deliveries across all six terminals.

Long Beach handled 48.9 percent of container traffic moving through the San Pedro Bay last year. Imports rose 1.1 percent to 4.78 million TEUs in 2025, while exports fell 5.5 percent to 1.14 million TEUs. Empty container moves increased 6.7 percent to 3.96 million TEUs.

Five terminals each handled more than 1 million TEUs for the first time, and two exceeded 2 million TEUs.

Looking ahead, Hacegaba said 2026 volume is expected to exceed 9 million TEUs, with activity shaped by tariff changes, trade policy and shifts in manufacturing sourcing.

Hacegaba Represents Port at Davos

Hacegaba represented the port at the World Economic Forum’s 2026 annual meeting, on Jan. 23, where government and business leaders discussed global trade, supply chains and economic resilience.

Hacegaba said trade policy and tariffs were a central topic in meetings with shipping, logistics and transportation executives, noting that policy shifts can affect cargo timing, sourcing and routing decisions.

He participated in roundtable discussions with U.S. and international officials and met with executives from major transportation and logistics companies. Hacegaba was the only representative of a U.S. seaport at the forum.

Tags: CargoNav, Port of Long Beach