According to China Daily, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka stated the port is accelerating its push for greener shipping, smarter infrastructure and closer cooperation with China as it prepares for another year of rising cargo demand. “China still represents approximately 40 percent of our business, more than two and a half times our next largest trading partner,” Seroka told China Daily. “There is no faster way to get cargo from China to the US than through LA. These partnerships have run deep for many decades, and we intend to continue them.”
Read also: Bridging the Gap: Report Calls for Stronger Support in Green Shipping Corridors
Seroka said he traveled to China “three or four times last year” to reinforce ties. He laid out an ambitious strategy centered on “Building Bigger and Building Smarter,” combining infrastructure expansion, digital innovation and environmental leadership with renewed efforts to strengthen global partnerships, especially along trans-Pacific trade routes. “American farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers all depend on how well we move that cargo,” Seroka said on Thursday before about 900 industry and community representatives.
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The port handled 10.2 million TEUs in 2025, its third-highest annual volume on record. It has been ranked the No. 1 container port in the US for 26 consecutive years, and in 2024 it facilitated $333 billion in trade. “Cargo remains the lifeblood of the US economy,” Seroka said.
Green Shipping Corridor Progress
Seroka highlighted major progress in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Shanghai Green Shipping Corridor, a decarbonization partnership launched in 2022. He announced the corridor has successfully completed all Phase 1 objectives, which included expanding shoreside electricity for berthed vessels, advancing cleaner vessel technologies, and laying groundwork for future bunkering of lower-carbon marine fuels.
“Our partners in Shanghai have been wonderful to work with every day,” Seroka told China Daily. “The Shanghai-Long Beach-Los Angeles green shipping corridor is gaining momentum, and our partnership will only get stronger.” The corridor links the world’s busiest container port (Shanghai) with North America’s busiest port complex, covering a trade lane responsible for more than $300 billion in two-way goods movement annually.
Future Strategy and Local Support
Looking ahead, Seroka highlighted projects under the “Build Bigger” strategy, including a proposed Pier 500 Marine Terminal designed for zero-emission operations. He noted Los Angeles now posts the lowest emissions per TEU of any major port worldwide.
Local officials reiterated the importance of stable US-China economic ties. “As the local council person for the city of Los Angeles working with the Port of Los Angeles, I’m gratified that we know how to move goods,” LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker told China Daily. “Regardless of what happens on the national or international stage, I hope we can continue working cooperatively to move goods quickly, safely and efficiently.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also praised the port’s role in keeping supply chains steady.
Industry data show the San Pedro Bay port complex handles about 40 percent of all US containerized imports, making it the nation’s primary gateway for trans-Pacific trade. Much of this cargo originates from major Chinese ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Yantian.
“Our work is far from finished,” Seroka added. “But with the partnerships we’ve built — locally and globally — we’re ready for the opportunities of tomorrow.”
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform
