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Before we get into more detail on the busiest ports in the US, here’s an overview of each of these ports in terms of TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) handled in 2022 and the percentage difference between 2021 and 2022.
Now that we’ve got the basic outline, let’s learn more about each port below.
For the past 22 years, the Port of Los Angeles has been the busiest container port in North America, moving around 10 million cargo containers yearly. The port mainly handles cargo from Transpacific trade. However, Los Angeles port has faced a lot of delays and congestion in the past year. One factor contributing to these hold ups has been the West Coast Port strikes, which only came to an end in July of this year.
Due to these delays, shippers and freight forwarders started to move their shipments to the East Coast. This was in order to avoid paying high leasing rates, as well as to prevent their shipments from getting stuck at ports. So although the port handled over 10 million TEUs in 2022, it’s now experiencing a 26.85% decrease in container volumes in 2023.
The Port of New Jersey & New York makes up the primary port on the East Coast of the US, and is currently the third largest port in the US.
The amount of cargo coming into the Port of New York and New Jersey increased by 5.7% in 2022. This port handles everything from roll-on roll-off (RORO) cargo and break bulk to project cargo. Its six terminals and berths accommodate all container types, as well as the biggest shipping vessels in the industry.
The Port of Long Beach handled 9,133,657 TEUs in 2022, but is seeing a -25.6% decrease in volume this year. This port is popular for its environmentally-friendly operations, making it one of the most sustainable ports in the world. Alongside Los Angeles, Long Beach forms the largest shipping container hub in the US.
The Port of Long Beach has seven terminals and handles 2,000 vessel calls on average per year. The exports at this port include cotton, meat, bulk grain, dairy products, hides, and skins. Imports include beverages, beer/ale/wine, frozen and canned fish, and meat.
The Port of Savannah is Georgia’s chief shipping port. If you have shipments to be sent out to Georgia, then this port is the way to go.
There are two terminals here: the Ocean terminal and the Garden City terminal. The Ocean terminal is the main container terminal – and one of the most technologically advanced terminals in the world. The Garden City terminal handles mainly RORO and breakbulk cargo.
The Port of Savannah moved 5,892,131 million TEUs in 2022, growing cargo volumes by 8%, or 432,000 additional TEUs compared to 2021. If this growth continues, the port will surpass the Port of Long Beach as well as the Port of New Jersey & New York.
The Port of Norfolk is located in Virginia. It has a TEU capacity of 3,700,000. This port is made up of three sections: The South Terminal, the North Terminal, and the Central Rail Yard. The port’s largest trading partner is China.
The exports here consist of soybeans, grain products, cereal, flour, bulk grains, and tobacco products. Imports consist of coffee, vodka, bitters, brandy, cognac, vegetables, and nuts.
Are you sending out a shipment to Texas? Well, you can have it sent to the Port of Houston, which has seen a lot of growth over the years. Houston port had a TEU capacity of 3,974,901 in 2022.
Some of this port’s major exports include wood, fertilizers, iron, and steel. However, its primary exports are petroleum, mineral products, oils, and plastics. In terms of imports, there’s palm oil, ethanol, kerosene, juices, milk, and wine.
The Port of Seattle works together with the Port of Tacoma. Terminal 86 in the Seattle port is known for its futuristic, automated grain facility. If you need to send out a shipment of grains, rest assured your cargo will be in good hands. Because this terminal is responsible for transferring grains from transport vans to silos. After which, the grains are moved to cargo ships for shipping.
The Port of Tacoma is a deep-water terminal and hence, it can hold large cargo ships. The primary exports leaving these ports are agricultural, while imports range from vehicles and clothes to toys and various kinds of equipment.
The Port of Charleston handled 2,850,000 TEUs in the 2022 financial year 2022. If you want to avoid paying tariffs on goods, take note that this port has its own free-trade zone, which distinguishes it from other ports.
All cargo entering and leaving Charleston port can be freely imported and exported because no tariffs are attached to them. The top commodities here include machinery parts, furniture, chemicals and textiles.
If you need to send out a shipment to California, opt for the Port of Oakland. It has a TEU capacity of 2,337,125 and is an important port for US agricultural exports. Imports here include electronics, consumer goods, glass, and a variety of household items.
The Oakland port exports dried fruits and nuts, wine, and other beverages.
Lastly, the Port of Miami handled 1,114,900 TEUs in 2022, making it to our top ten list. Did you know that it’s the only South-Eastern seaport that’s able to house Neo-Panamax vessels? This is because it has the deepest shipping channel of all South-Eastern seaports.
The exports here are grapefruit, citrus fruit juices, poultry, dairy products, bitters, brandy, and cognac. Imports include fruits, vegetables, frozen fish, shrimp, prawns, wine, and vodka.
Let’s take a step back from the individual ports and get a quick understanding of what makes these ports so busy.
Global trade position:
For one thing, the US has a lot of influence over global trade due to the it’s power and wealth. The region, as a whole, makes a large amount of transactions through imports and exports each year – no wonder there are so many busy ports here!
The history of the US:
Another factor to take into account is the history of the US. The country has made very excellent use of its waterways for centuries. Years ago, there were projects carried out to add more ports to rivers and coastlines, increasing the country’s accessibility and trade flow significantly.
With the increase in imports and exports, and the participation in international trade, US ports have become some of the busiest ports in the world.
