New study highlights far-reaching, positive impacts of international commerce

Trade facilitated by the Port of Long Beach is a key pillar of economic vitality in the United States, driving consumer spending, job creation, and innovation, according to a new economic impact analysis released Monday.

As one of the busiest seaports in the United States, the Port of Long Beach supports 2.7 million jobs across the nation, including more than 1.1 million in California, the Port-commissioned study conducted by Boston-based EBP US found. In the five-county Southern California region, more than 691,000 jobs are connected to Port trade, construction and tourism, or 1 out of 17 jobs.

“International trade isn’t only important to Long Beach, it’s critical for the entire nation,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “The data in this new analysis shows us what can be lost when trade is reduced here, and it’s easy to imagine how the impacts can ripple throughout the national economy. Our community, our jobs and our collective futures depend on stable, smart trade policies that grow business incomes at home and markets for U.S. goods abroad.”

“The Port of Long Beach is a top gateway for the products many Americans buy daily, ” said CEO Mario Cordero. “We are also a crucial link to overseas markets for the nation’s farmers and other exporters in addition to many of the materials used for manufacturing that cannot be sourced domestically. This study affirms the benefits of international trade, which should be nurtured by carefully calculated, deliberate policies that serve U.S. businesses and consumers.”

“This Port of Long Beach’s influence on the national economy is far-reaching, with 15% of all U.S. container cargo moved across our docks,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “In this analysis, we see why every American has a stake in what happens at the Port of Long Beach, and how investments in an efficient and sustainable supply chain here can spread benefits to every corner of the country.”

The study started in August of last year and examines economic activity in 2023. Among other findings:

• The Port supports 2,714,707 jobs in the United States, providing $176 billion in income and more than $309 billion to the gross domestic product, the final value of goods and services.
• Statewide, 1,138,156 jobs are connected to the Port, generating $77.9 billion in income.
• Across Southern California, 691,607 jobs depend on the Port, providing $46.6 billion in income. (Five-county region including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.)
• Locally, in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Statistical Area (the second-largest in the nation), the Port powers 543,122 jobs, providing $38.9 billion in income.
• Port activity is a major contributor to the tax base, with $84.4 billion in local, state, and federal taxes collected for 2023.
• Cargo moving to and from the Port originates from or is destined for every Assembly and Senate district in California and every U.S. congressional district.