Top 10: Ports in North America
In a world powered by trade, the demand for effective and reliable ports is higher than ever.
Every consumer and business relies on ports for something, meaning any issues can drastically affect the entire supply chain.
As ports face higher import taxes and a rising number of supply chains, they must also recognise their sustainability and community impact.
Here, Supply Chain Digital looks at the North American Ports which had the highest shipping volumes in 2024, measured by twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs), and examines what theyāre doing to limit their impact on the planet.
10. Port of Oakland
mTEU: 2.2
Location: California, US
More than 99% of the containerised goods that move through Northern California are loaded and discharged by the Port of Oakland.
Its major trade is with foreign nations, with only 5% of Oaklandās trade domestic. In 2023, 74% of the site's trade was with Asia.
The port created its Social Responsibility Division to interact with the local community, creating policies that add value to the portās business development, local businesses and the community.
9. Port of Charleston
mTEU: 2.4
Location: South Carolina, US
The Port of Charleston, operated by the South Carolina Ports Authority, sits in Charleston Harbour – the deepest in the at 52 feet – and has six terminals.
The port supports economic development and job growth within South Carolina, with one in nine jobs in the state connected to the facility.
The port also runs educational outreach programmes, a non-profit programme and is laser-focused on community involvement.
8. Port of Seattle-Tacoma
mTEU: 3.3
Location: Washington
The Port of Seattle-Tacoma, also known as the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), began trading as a merged company in 2015.
Its key markets are in the Asia-Pacific region, which takes up 92% of trade.
The NWSA is committed to increasing environmental sustainability within its operations, participating in Green Marine and working on the “Quiet Sound” Underwater Noise Reduction Program. It also commits to a Clean Air programme.
7. Port of Vancouver
mTEU: 3.47
Location: British Columbia, Canada
The Port of Vancouver trades with up to 170 nations across the globe, with 80% of its international trade done with countries outside of the US. Its biggest import trading partners are China, Japan and South Korea.
Its terminals move people and goods across five sectors; auto, breakbulk, bulk, container and cruise.
As a result, its port operations preserve more than 132,000 jobs across Canada throughout various supply chains.
6. Port of Virginia
mTEU: 3.5
Location: Virginia, US
The Port of Virginia is a highly-modernised port. Its Norfolk International Terminal is the port’s largest terminal and is currently undergoing modernisation to increase annual TEU capacity through the addition of semi-automated stacking cranes.
The port is powered by 100% clean energy, reducing carbon emissions by 45% per container. Currently, its cargo moves with the lowest carbon emissions per TEU on the US East Coast and the port aims to be net zero by 2040.
5. Port Houston
mTEU: 4.1
Location: Texas, US
Port Houston manages eight public and 200 private terminals along its 52-mile waterway. It supports 1.54 million jobs throughout Texas, and 3.37 million nationwide.
The portās main export partners are from Europe and the Mediterranean, whereas its main import comes from the Far East.
Port Houston aims to support diversity and improve the local economy by working with small, minority and woman-owned businesses. The port has numerous initiatives to improve quality of life within the communities it serves.
4. Port of Savannah
mTEU: 5.5
Location: Georgia, US
The Port of Savannah comprises two deepwater terminals in the form of Garden City Terminal and Ocean Terminal, which amplify trade productivity and efficiency. It has nearly 10,000 feet of connecting designated docking space, meaning it can easily adapt to companiesā schedules.
Part of Georgia Ports, the Port of Savannah works to incorporate community development and quality of life enhancement into its sustainability projects.
With distribution centres and warehouses close to the ports, transportation-related emissions are reduced and more local jobs are created.
3. Port of New York and New Jersey
mTEU: 8.7
Location: New York and New Jersey, US
The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast, with five terminals.
Its largest import partners are China, India and Vietnam, with furniture representing its biggest import category. In 2024, the site moved approximately US$246bn worth of goods.
The port has a 40-step plan to hit net zero by 2050, which includes promoting the use of renewable energy and green technology. It is also creating a series of online educational programmes to help students learn about the environment.
2. Port of Long Beach
mTEU: 9.7
Location: California, US
The Port of Long Beach serves 175 shipping lines and has connections to 217 seaports globally.
It supports no fewer than 2.7 million jobs across the nation, more than 1.14 million in California and almost 550,000 in Los Angeles alone.
The port offers numerous initiatives to reduce the impacts of port-related operations, including the Clean Trucks Program. It also has a range of internships, community sponsorships and educational programmes designed to make a positive impact on the community.
1. Port of Los Angeles
mTEU: 10.29
Location: California, US
The busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles operates across 7,500 acres of land and water, stretching across 43 miles of waterfront.
It caters caters to every need, with both passenger and cargo terminals.
The port works diligently to reduce its negative global impact through air quality initiatives and the reduction of fossil fuel consumption. With its Water Resources Action Plan, the port is consistently working to tackle water pollution caused by cargo-related shipping.
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