The ocean freight industry is rapidly growing and extremely crucial to the country’s economy. Here are some of the largest and the busiest ports in the United States of America.
Port of Los Angeles
Also known as America’s Port, it covers a total area of 7,500 acres and the waterfront spans for 43 miles (69 km).It’s the largest port in the US and recorded 9.5 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in 2018, up from 9.3 million in 2017.
Port of Long Beach
With a land area of 3,200 acres and a 25 mile waterfront, it sits right next to the Port of Los Angeles. In 2018, this port handled 8.09 million TEUs.
Both the sister ports, Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, account for a quarter of the total container based trade in North America.
Port of New York & New Jersey
The third-largest port in the US, it covers the land region within a 25-mile radius. The port facilities handled 7.18 million TEUs in 2018, up from 6.71 million TEUs in 2017.
Port of Savannah, Georgia
The Garden City Terminal of the port covers an area of 1,200 acres and the Ocean Terminal covers nearly 200 acres. In 2018, the port mover 4.35 million TEUs. It’s one of the fastest growing container ports.
Port of Seattle-Tacoma
Jointly operated by the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, together, were responsible for moving 3.79 million TEUs in 2018.
The two port, rivals in the past, unanimously voted to merge on August 4, 2015, forming The Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Port of Houston
The port encompasses a 25-mile long complex and is one of the busiest ports in the US. In 2018,it recorded 2.7 million TEUs,up from 2.46 million in 2017.
Port of Charleston, South Carolina
The port encompasses a 25-mile long complex and is one of the busiest ports in the US. In 2018, it recorded 2.7 million TEUs, up from 2.46 million in 2017.
Port of Oakland
This major container ship port is the fifth busiest port in the United States. It hit an all-time-high in 2018 by handling 2.55 million TEUs.
Port of Miami
The largest passenger port in the world, it sits in the Biscayne Bay and is also the only port that can handle neo-panamax vessels.
In the year 2018, it moved a total of 1.08 million TEUs, up from 1.04 million in 2017.