Construction at U.S. Cargo Ports Leads to $20 Billion in Spending

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Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Industrial Info Resources is tracking $20 billion worth of active and planned projects at U.S. cargo ports.

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U.S. Cargo Ports See Plenty of Investment

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $20 billion worth of active and planned projects at U.S. cargo ports, buoyed by high-dollar expansions, while about one-fourth of the investment is under construction.

Projects underway include a $1.8 billion expansion that is part of a $3.2 billion effort to improve navigation at the Soo Locks shipping channel along St. Mary's River in Michigan. The channel is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The project involves adding a new ship lock, which works to raise ships to higher or lower elevations. Soo Locks serves as a passageway for more than 80 million tons of commercial commodities per year, according to the USACE.

The Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database offers key details on the project, which is estimated to wrap up in summer 2030, in a detailed project report.

Along the Gulf Coast, in Mobile, Alabama, the Port of Mobile is building out a $131 million expansion of its Choctaw Point container terminal--which entails constructing a new,1,300-foot container berth, adding additional container yard capacity, and installing two new cranes. It is designed to bring the terminal's handling capacity to 1.4 million twenty-foot equivalent container units upon its expected completion in 2028. Readers can view the project report.

Among the projects under development is a $2.3 billion expansion at the Port of Coos Bay, on the southern coast of Oregon. Dubbed the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port project, it is designed to create a new freight gateway on the U.S. West Coast. Extensive improvements to the rail line will enable the port to move 100% of inbound and outbound containers by rail for inland markets and deepening and widening the ship channel will allow the port to serve larger ships. Construction could begin in 2027 and wrap up by the end of 2030. View the project report here.

The project took a small step forward after receiving a $11.25 million grant award in April from the federal government. In a related press release, Chad Meyer, president of NorthPoint Development, the project's private-sector partner, said, "As global trade patterns continue to evolve, resilient transportation infrastructure becomes increasingly important."

Industrial Info Resources offers a full list of reports for active and planned projects at U.S. cargo ports.

Trade Uncertainty Not Affecting Two Largest U.S. Cargo Ports

The two largest container ports in the United States--the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and neighboring Port of Long Beach--reported a year-over-year increase in cargo activity in May as import volumes increased amid uncertainty surrounding trade policy and global supply chains. The two ports handle about 40% of all cargo containers entering the U.S.

Los Angeles saw a 17% jump in overall cargo handling volume and a 26% increase in imports, while Long Beach saw a 31.7% rise in overall volume and a 40% jump in imports.

"We're seeing cargo move for a combination of reasons, including inventory replenishment, concerns about fuel costs, trade-policy uncertainty and preparation for upcoming retail seasons," POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka told reporters at a media briefing.

He added June and July volumes were looking to be stronger than May, although it would take months for overall supply chains to normalize after the Middle East conflict is resolved and the Strait of Hormuz opens up.

Key Takeaways

• $19.75 billion: Total value of active and planned projects at U.S. cargo ports.
• Expansions account for about half of the investment value.
• The country's two largest container ports reported an increase in overall cargo handling volumes and imports in May despite trade uncertainty.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).