Port of Los Angeles processed 10.3 million TEUs in 2024

At the Port of Los Angeles “State of the Port” Eugene Seroka, Executive Director, announced that “in 2024, the Port of Los Angeles moved 10.3 million TEUs. That is our second-best year in the 117-year history of the Port of Los Angeles ... and nearly a 20% increase in volume over 2023. In fact, we moved 1.7 million more TEUs than last year, which is the largest incremental gain we’ve ever seen.”

Seroka added that the Port “moved all that cargo efficiently and without a single ship backed up at sea.”

The “State of the Port” is produced by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) and took place on January 23rd at the Port of Los Angeles with nearly 1,000 people in attendance.

Seroka cited “Significant investments by our two great Western railroads, Union Pacific and BNSF, to efficiently accommodate increased cargo in and out of the San Pedro Bay.”

He also cited improved data processing: “Ten years ago, we launched a first-of-its-kind Cyber Security Operations Center. Since then, we’ve remained leaders in enhancing digital security and online tools. At the heart of our data improvements is the Port Optimizer, launched in 2017. It’s a one-stop information portal that helps get goods to market in a more predictable and timely manner. Today, we provide more comprehensive real-time data through secure, channeled access than any other port in North America.”

Role of Women

Seroka also cited the role of women engineers: “The Port’s $73 million Pier 400 On-Dock Rail Expansion was completed almost exclusively by a team of women professionals. And our recent $36 million Town Square and Promenade Phase One project was led entirely by women engineers. It’s worth noting that across the country, women make up less than 17% of all engineers. Yet here at the Port of Los Angeles, 37% of our engineering workforce are women—more than double the national average.”

Support of Longshore Labor, Harbor Truckers and Goods Movement Training Center

Seroka praised the support of its dockworkers: “Of course, equally vital to our success... are the dedicated individuals working on our docks. The women and men of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) along with truckers and other waterfront workers are the heartbeat of this Port – the ones who load and unload ships and move the cargo in and out of our gateways. Without their commitment and hard work, nothing gets done.”

To enhance their skills and careers, the “Port has launched several important initiatives. This past May we helped the ILWU and PMA open a Maintenance and Repair Training Center on Terminal Island. This 16-million-dollar facility offers programs to reskill and up-skill ILWU workers. We’re committed to ensuring every worker has the skills to thrive in a safe environment. That’s why we are also developing the Goods Movement Training Facility together with the Port of Long Beach, the ILWU, PMA (Pacific Maritime Association) and the California Workforce Development Board.”

Cruise Ship Terminal Expansion

In 2024, “We unveiled plans for the Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal, another waterfront landmark expected to attract millions of visitors each year.... This long-term project is slated for completion by the year 2030, after which we will focus on a major renovation right here at the World Cruise Center. Cruise activity at our Port means a lot to our community. Everyone knows that when a cruise ship comes in, San Pedro buzzes with the excitement of visitors, eager to explore all our town has to offer. With each cruise, we see over $1.2 million dollars in local payroll and business activity. In the last decade, we’ve doubled our cruise business, and this year is on track to be our best ever.”

Seroka noted that cruise ship operators are adding capacity at the Port: “Royal Caribbean is introducing two larger ships which will offer more options for travelers while strengthening our partnership. And Princess Cruises will launch a new trip to Alaska this summer, with even more cruises on tap for 2026. With more than a million and a half cruise passengers expected this year alone, it’s obvious that our waterfront is thriving with life and energy.”

Reduced Emissions

The San Pedro Bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach “are at their lowest levels of emissions since we began measuring in 2005. Of course, that represents the hard work of a lot of you here today as well as major improvements in technology … We set ambitious goals in 2005. And here’s where we landed: We have exceeded each of these targets, with DPM (diesel particulate matter) and NOx (nitrogen oxides) way below what we expected and committed to our communities. Overall, greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 24%. And all that in a time when the TEU count, and our business has grown by 15%.”

Zero Emission and Clean Trucks

Seroka added the Port’s goal “isn’t fewer emissions, it’s ZERO emissions.”

Seroka said that through the Clean Truck Program, “we’re ramping up the number of ZE (zero emission) trucks in service:”

• Right now, “we have nearly 500 operating at the Ports, along with a growing fleet of dockside tractors, top handlers and other equipment.”
• Over the last three years, “we’ve received nearly a billion dollars in Federal and State funding. That is our best run ever.”
• The highlight being an unprecedented $412 million EPA grant announced a few months ago to “cover ZE equipment and terminal upgrades. With over $230 million in matching funds from the Port and our terminal partners, the total investment will exceed $640 million.”
• This will “allow us to deploy 250 ZE trucks and replace diesel equipment on our docks with 424 ZE units, supported by 300 charging stations.”

*Plus, “we are working on securing funding that will help Union Pacific purchase and develop a new zero-emissions locomotive for short-distance hauling within the Port.”

Seroka thanked “EPA, and our Congressional delegation, especially Representative Nanette Barragan, for their unwavering support in establishing the EPA Clean Ports Program.”

Progress by Container Terminals

Container terminals have also been upgrading with zero emission technology, Seroka noted:

• Last May “Yusen Terminals launched the world's first hydrogen-fueled rubber-tired gantry crane”
• Fenix Marine Services, “in collaboration with Toyota, is testing a retro-fit hydrogen-powered top handler that can operate for 20-hours on a single tank of fuel.”
• Everport is running two “electric top handlers as part of a $8 million Advanced Cargo-Handling Demonstration Project.”

Department of Water and Power

Seroka also noted that given the introduction of all this equipment: “We recognize the need to ramp up our electrical capacity. So, we’ve teamed with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on a $500 million upgrade to help us scale up our battery electric equipment and provide reliable shore power. We must expand our infrastructure to accommodate additional electric cargo handling equipment, EV charging stations, and overall operations in order to meet our zero emissions targets.”

Green Port Partners

The Port is also expanding cooperation with port partners abroad: “With these efforts underway, we also advanced our maritime initiatives. This year we joined forces with 8 different ports in China, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam to develop Green Shipping Corridors aimed at decarbonizing the vessel-side of our industry.”