On May 17, 2022 some ** container ships were waiting outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, compared to just **** container ships waiting at the ports on October 13, 2020. The congestion at the ports peaked on January 9, 2022 when *** container vessels were waiting outside the ports. This high increase in congestion was due to disruptions to the global supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The volume of containers handled at the Port of Long Beach generally increased between 2010 and 2022, peaking at nearly *** million TEUs of containers processed in 2021. In 2022, the throughput dropped to some *** million TEUs.

United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Inbound data was reported at 364,084.000 TEU in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 357,301.000 TEU for Sep 2018. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Inbound data is updated monthly, averaging 242,677.500 TEU from Jan 1995 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 286 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 384,095.000 TEU in Jun 2018 and a record low of 94,125.000 TEU in Mar 1995. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Inbound data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Port of Long Beach. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA027: Container Trade: The Port of Long Beach.

United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Empties data was reported at 221,487.000 TEU in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 222,343.000 TEU for Sep 2018. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Empties data is updated monthly, averaging 119,032.500 TEU from Jan 1995 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 286 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 232,926.000 TEU in Jun 2018 and a record low of 23,322.000 TEU in Feb 1996. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Empties data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Port of Long Beach. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA027: Container Trade: The Port of Long Beach.

The average time for handling shipping containers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach increased between January 2019 and December 2021, from *** to *** days. November 2021 was the slowest of all the months in the observed period. That month, it took on average *** days for a container to be processed at the ports.

United States Port Calls: Arrivals: Long Beach: Container Ships data was reported at 3.000 Unit in 17 May 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.000 Unit for 16 May 2025. United States Port Calls: Arrivals: Long Beach: Container Ships data is updated daily, averaging 3.000 Unit from Jan 2018 (Median) to 17 May 2025, with 2676 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.000 Unit in 02 Feb 2018 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in 14 May 2025. United States Port Calls: Arrivals: Long Beach: Container Ships data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Marine Traffic. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.MT.PCL: Port Calls.

In 2020, over ***** vessels passed through the Port of Long Beach. Nearly 1,000 of these ships were container carriers and over *** ships were barges carrying unspecified cargo. Dry bulk barges and dry bulk carriers amounted to *** and *** port calls that year, respectively.

These data provide an accurate high-resolution shoreline compiled from imagery of PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH, CA . This vector shoreline data is based on an office interpretation of imagery that may be suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. This metadata describes information for both the line and point shapefiles. The NGS attribution scheme 'Coastal Cartographic Object Attribute Source Table (C-COAST)' was developed to conform the attribution of various sources of shoreline data into one attribution catalog. C-COAST is not a recognized standard, but was influenced by the International Hydrographic Organization's S-57 Object-Attribute standard so the data would be more accurately translated into S-57. This resource is a member of https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/39808

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has the statutory mandate to collect hydrographic data in support of nautical chart compilation for safe navigation and to provide background data for engineers, scientific, and other commercial and industrial activities. Hydrographic survey data primarily consist of water depths, but may also include features (e.g. rocks, wrecks), navigation aids, shoreline identification, and bottom type information. NOAA is responsible for archiving and distributing the source data as described in this metadata record.

United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total Loaded data was reported at 483,921.000 TEU in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 478,861.000 TEU for Sep 2018. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total Loaded data is updated monthly, averaging 357,121.500 TEU from Jan 1995 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 286 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 519,262.000 TEU in Jun 2018 and a record low of 178,089.000 TEU in Mar 1995. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total Loaded data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Port of Long Beach. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA027: Container Trade: The Port of Long Beach.

The volume of waterborne cargo processed at the Port of Long Beach oscillated between 2016 and 2020. In 2020, the port handled about **** million short tons of cargo, a decrease of nearly two percent compared with the previous year.

These data provide an accurate high-resolution shoreline compiled from imagery of Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA . This vector shoreline data is based on an office interpretation of imagery that may be suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. This metadata describes information for both the line and point shapefiles. The NGS attribution scheme 'Coastal Cartograph...

The volume of containers handled monthly at the Port of Long Beach fluctuated between January 2020 and September 2022. In September 2022, some ******* TEUs of containers were processed at the port.

United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Outbound data was reported at 119,837.000 TEU in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 121,561.000 TEU for Sep 2018. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Outbound data is updated monthly, averaging 108,262.500 TEU from Jan 1995 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 286 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 163,577.000 TEU in Apr 2008 and a record low of 40,608.000 TEU in Oct 2002. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Loaded Outbound data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Port of Long Beach. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA027: Container Trade: The Port of Long Beach.

United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total data was reported at 705,408.000 TEU in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 701,204.000 TEU for Sep 2018. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total data is updated monthly, averaging 485,879.000 TEU from Jan 1995 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 286 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 752,188.000 TEU in Jun 2018 and a record low of 206,438.000 TEU in Mar 1995. United States The Port of Long Beach: Container Trade: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Port of Long Beach. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA027: Container Trade: The Port of Long Beach.

The volume of foreign waterborne cargo imported and exported through the Port of Long Beach oscillated between 2016 and 2020. In 2020, the port handled about **** million short tons of foreign cargo, **** million short tons of which were imports, while **** million short tons were exports.

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The automated container terminal market share is expected to increase by USD 626.5 million from 2020 to 2025, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 1.69%.

This automated container terminal market research report provides valuable insights on the post COVID-19 impact on the market, which will help companies evaluate their business approaches. Furthermore, this report extensively covers automated container terminal market segmentation by product (equipment and software) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA). The automated container terminal market report also offers information on several market vendors, including ABB Ltd., Camco Technologies, Cargotec Corp., CyberLogitec Co. Ltd., Identec Group AG, Konecranes Plc, Künz GmbH, LOGSTAR ERP, ORBCOMM Inc., and Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. among others.

What will the Automated Container Terminal Market Size be During the Forecast Period?

Download Report Sample to Unlock the Automated Container Terminal Market Size for the Forecast Period and Other Important Statistics

Automated Container Terminal Market: Key Drivers, Trends, and Challenges

The growth in automated container terminals in emerging markets is notably driving the automated container terminal market growth, although factors such as high capital investment and maintenance costs may impede the market growth. Our research analysts have studied the historical data and deduced the key market drivers and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the automated container terminal industry. The holistic analysis of the drivers will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Key Automated Container Terminal Market Driver

Growth in automated container terminals in emerging markets is one of the key drivers of the automated container terminal market growth. Emerging economies such as Brazil, India, and China have been major contributors to global seaborne trade. The growing prominence of these countries in global trade is reflected in the modernization of their container terminals as well. For instance, in 2017, the Qingdao New Qianwan Container Terminal in China became Asia's first fully automated port terminal. In the same year, China started trial operations at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, which is the world's largest fully automated terminal. As part of this initiative, China is investing heavily in ports, roads, and other infrastructure across Asia, Europe, and South America. Brazil has also invested heavily in container terminal automation between 2017 and 2019, with major terminals such as Tecon Rio Grande and Tecon Salvador undergoing automation upgrades in equipment and software. Also, investments worth $123 billion were announced in 2017 in greenfield and brownfield ventures involving 415 port projects across the country. The container terminal automation in these rapidly growing economies is expected to drive the growth of the global automated container terminal market during the forecast period.

Key Automated Container Terminal Market Trend

Robotization of container terminals in the US is one of the key trends in the automated container terminal market growth. The adoption of automation in container terminals has been prevalent in European and Asian countries over the last few years; however, the US has been opting for the more traditional approach of manual or semi-automated container terminals. In January 2018, the Port of Los Angeles was among the first US ports to experiment with robotization at its TraPac Terminal. The technology replaces manual crane operations and cargo hauling to cope with the heavy shipping and container traffic at the terminal. The entire automation process of the TraPac terminal, which is spread across an area of 210 acres, is expected to cost over $1 billion. However, this trend of experimenting with automated terminals in the US is expected to continue during the forecast period due to the high container traffic in the western coastal region. The Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles constitute two of the busiest ports in the US. The challenges to automation of container terminals include high costs and low returns, and protests from labor unions regarding job security. The productivity of these robotized terminals is expected to set a precedent for the automation of container terminals in the country during the forecast period.

Key Automated Container Terminal Market Challenge

High capital investment and maintenance costs are one of the key challenges for the automated container terminal market growth. The initial complexities involved in the automation of container terminal software lead to time delays in its installation as well as in training workers to get accustomed to the different types of machinery and their operation, depending on the nature of the project. I

United States Port Congestion: Anchorage Stay Duration: Long Beach: Container Ships data was reported at 0.900 Day in 05 May 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.600 Day for 28 Apr 2025. United States Port Congestion: Anchorage Stay Duration: Long Beach: Container Ships data is updated weekly, averaging 0.800 Day from Jan 2022 (Median) to 05 May 2025, with 171 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.300 Day in 16 May 2022 and a record low of 0.300 Day in 14 Apr 2025. United States Port Congestion: Anchorage Stay Duration: Long Beach: Container Ships data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Marine Traffic. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.MT.PCN: Port Congestion: Anchorage Stay Duration: by Port and Vessel Type.

The industry enters 2025 with momentum, though the year brings new tests amid rising tariffs, global competition and ongoing shifts in supply chain dynamics. Sustained investment in modernization and automation, including major federal and state infrastructure programs, has allowed ports to accommodate robust container and bulk volumes fueled by strong e-commerce growth and expanding logistics demand. Due to a recent executive order under the Trump administration, many funds established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will expire in 2026. Rising trade activity over the past five years has helped profit improve, rising to 13.4% as a share of revenue in 2025, with digital services, expanded storage and integrated logistics helping diversify revenue streams. Revenue for the industry reached $5.9 billion in the current year, as operators benefited from technology upgrades that enhanced resilience and efficiency. The sector also recorded a revenue growth rate of 2.7% in 2025, supporting a five-year CAGR of 4.7%. Competition among major US ports intensifies as trade patterns shift in response to higher tariffs, carrier alliances and global supply chain realignments. Coastal ports with deep-water capability, strong inland connections and diversified cargo mixes, such as the Gulf and Southeast regions, outperform, capitalizing on energy, bulk and Latin American trade. Meanwhile, West Coast gateways are adapting to softer Asian imports and seeking to offset lost volume with investment in value-added logistics, automation and resilience against labor or ESG-related disruptions. As tariff-related pressures suppress import flows, supply chains adapt through nearshoring. Regulatory changes add compliance costs, but large-scale public and private infrastructure commitments support capacity growth and long-term reliability. Looking ahead, US ports are positioned for moderate but steady growth as infrastructure investments and cloud computing unlock capacity, productivity and sustainability gains. Continued e-commerce expansion and rising demand for flexible supply chains will help drive future revenue, even as tariff risks and trade volatility persist. Strategic adaptation, balancing customer service, technology, cost control and ESG commitments will be central to sustaining this positive trajectory in a dynamic global trade environment. Revenue is expected to grow at a lower 2.3% CAGR over the next five years due to ongoing external pressures, reaching $6.6 billion by 2030, with profit as a revenue share increasing slightly to 13.5%.

Operating revenue of the Port of Long Beach generally increased between the fiscal years of 2010 and 2021, peaking at ****** million U.S. dollars in 2019. In the 2021 fiscal year, the port generated an operating revenue of ****** million U.S. dollars.