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From West Coast wins to Gulf Coast fog delays, the country’s top gateways are telling very different stories.
Import volumes are up. Tariff anxieties are rising. And America's top ports are moving fast to keep up with the swings.
We're taking a look at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Savannah.
Which U.S. port is the most exposed to tariffs? We’ll break it down in today’s newsletter.
Each port is responding differently to the volatile mix of front-loaded cargo, tariff threats, and infrastructure investment. Here's what freight brokers need to know:
Port of LA Executive Director Gene Seroka warned that this early growth may not last:
“With tariff and counter-tariffs dominating the news, I expect we’ll see cargo decline in the second half of the year at least 10% compared to 2024.”
Retailers have pulled forward inventory to beat potential tariffs, but Seroka said LA is preparing for a slowdown. Behind the scenes, the port is boosting competitiveness with on-dock rail expansions and digital tools like Port Optimizer.
Road connections are also getting an upgrade; a major I-110/SR-47 interchange project is underway to improve truck access to the port complex.
As Seroka put it, LA’s strategy hinges on "people, planet, and performance."
Long Beach overtook LA as the busiest U.S. port last quarter, driven by front-loaded shipments and high fluidity.
CEO Mario Cordero credited investments in automation and rail:
“We are leading the way... Our investments in state-of-the-art, modern facilities allow us to move record amounts of cargo with maximum efficiency.”
Those investments include the fully-automated Long Beach Container Terminal, a new bridge and highway connector easing truck traffic, and the ongoing Pier B on-dock rail project that will significantly boost rail capacity by late this decade.
While empties (containers sitting 'empty' at the terminal after goods are removed) and exports remain soft, the port is confident its upgraded infrastructure and labor stability will help it hold discretionary cargo, even if tariffs bite later in the year.
The East Coast's top port is building on its pandemic-era gains. It just extended a 33-year lease with APM Terminals that includes over $500M in upgrades.
Port Director Bethann Rooney said:
“This agreement delivers long-term capacity growth... while maintaining our reputation for world-class efficiency and service.”
With strong European and India-linked trade, NY/NJ is less exposed to China tariffs and expects steady demand as shippers diversify away from the West Coast.
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Houston was rocked by February's weather, but is bouncing back. CEO Charlie Jenkins emphasized resilience:
“We are strategically focused on enhancing capacity and resilience.”
The port has $1B+ in expansions underway, including 8 new cranes and the Houston Ship Channel widening. This has already added roughly two extra hours of navigable time per day for larger vessels, and once fully completed, will allow unrestricted passage of big ships to Houston’s terminals.
With strong exports (chemicals, steel) and Gulf diversification, Houston aims to be the long-term winner of sourcing shifts.
“Port Houston is focused on the long game… While short-term factors may influence volumes temporarily, our commitment to growth, efficiency, and exceptional customer service remains steadfast.”
Savannah has roared into 2025, extending its reign as one of America’s fastest-growing container ports. CEO Griff Lynch said:
"The rate of growth was due in large part to two factors: cargo coming back from the U.S. West Coast after the completion of labor contract negotiations, and… customers front-loading orders to avoid new tariffs."
So, some freight that had flirted with West Coast ports is firmly sticking with Savannah post-ILWU labor peace, and many importers rushed shipments into Savannah early this year ahead of anticipated tariff implementation.
The port achieved a single-day truck gate record of 16,430 moves in March, showing the intense import flow and the port’s fluidity in handling it.
With new lay berths, container yards, and rail capacity, the Georgia Ports Authority plans to raise throughput from 6M to 12.5M TEUs by 2035. That’s a 108% jump.
Lynch is bullish on Savannah’s trajectory.
“Growth at the nation’s gateway terminals outpaced all others, and Savannah is clearly the gateway port for the U.S. Southeast… We see this pattern only continuing to accelerate,” he said.
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As President Trump’s 125% tariffs on Chinese goods loom, import bookings have already plunged. LA’s Seroka warned of "a 10% drop in H2 imports," and West Coast executives admit: "no one can bank on stability."
*The ports of LA/Long Beach, still America’s biggest import gateways, are most exposed. Both have invested in rail and digitization to boost long-term competitiveness, but they can’t tariff-proof the market.
Ports are the pressure valve for global trade.
Stay nimble, stay informed, and remember: what happens at the docks doesn’t stay at the docks.
FREIGHT HUMOR
Plus, a carrier pleading guilty to mob money laundering while still FMCSA-active, Iran's first post-ceasefire attack and what it means for diesel surcharges, FedEx Freight's first earnings as a standalone company, and more in today's newsletter.
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While everyone in trucking is watching rates, capacity, and fraud, a much bigger shift may be happening quietly in the background: the future of rail.
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