The Port of Long Beach has set a new record for cargo handling and shared a bold plan to double its container throughput by 2050, with Dr. Noel Hacegaba now leading the second-busiest seaport in the U.S.
In his inaugural State of the Port address this week, Dr. Hacegaba announced that the port managed 9,881,595 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, exceeding the previous record of 9.6 million TEUs reached in 2024 by 2.4%. This achievement came without the backlog and yard congestion that affected the San Pedro Bay during the pandemic.
Imports rose by 1.1% to 4,779,559 TEUs, while exports dropped by 5.5% to 1,141,113 TEUs, highlighting the ongoing imbalance in U.S. trade. Additionally, the movement of empty containers increased by 6.7% to 3,960,925 TEUs. Notably, five of the port’s six terminals handled over 1 million TEUs each, with two terminals exceeding 2 million TEUs.
“We have 24 years to prepare for doubling our container throughput and to figure out how to manage all that extra cargo quickly, safely, efficiently, and sustainably,” Hacegaba told an audience of 1,300 at the Long Beach Arena.
The growth strategy heavily focuses on rail improvements. The $1.8 billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, set to be completed in 2032, aims to transfer containers from ship to train in under 24 hours and increase on-dock rail capacity to 4.7 million TEUs.
“Speed to market is essential for our success, and rail connectivity is crucial for our future,” Hacegaba stated.
Long Beach is also promoting what it claims would be the world's first conventional zero-emission container terminal. The planned Metro Express Terminal at Pier S could handle up to 1.8 million TEUs each year using human-operated, renewable-powered cargo equipment. This project will explore the scalability of electrification.
On the digital side, the CargoNav platform, an advancement of the Supply Chain Information Highway, will introduce a Universal Trucking Appointment System. This new feature will enable carriers to schedule pickups and drop-offs across all six terminals, aiming to improve truck turnaround times.
Dr. Hacegaba took over as CEO on January 1, succeeding Mario Cordero after 15 years in senior positions at the port. He led the Business Recovery Task Force during the COVID pandemic and was responsible for developing the tools that became CargoNav.
“I am confident the Port is in capable hands with Noel at the helm, as he has been my right-hand man for many years,” Cordero said in December. “Noel has the skills and collaborative spirit to enhance competitiveness and advance our zero-emission goals during this significant growth period for the Port.”
Mayor Rex Richardson echoed this sentiment: “Looking ahead, our new CEO, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, is well-positioned to lead this next phase—boosting zero-emission operations, improving global competitiveness, and providing economic opportunities for Long Beach.”
For 2026, the port anticipates another year with over 9 million TEUs as shippers adapt to tariff changes and evolving sourcing strategies. Long Beach currently manages 48.9% of the cargo passing through the San Pedro Bay complex, a share that officials expect to increase.