New S&P Global Report: West Coast Liner Shipping Industry Supports 2.5 Million Jobs, $450 Billion in US GDP, and $100 Billion in Taxes
May 8, 2025
Contact: Natasha Villa, External Affairs Manager
nvilla@pmsaship.com | (562) 241-0433
LONG BEACH, CA - A new economic impact study released today by S&P Global, commissioned by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) and World Shipping Council, concludes that trade at U.S. West Coast ports by the container shipping industry plays a pivotal role in the U.S. economy with more than 2.5 million American jobs and nearly $450 billion added to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A copy of the study, Economic Impact of West Coast Trade Transported by the Liner Shipping Industry on the U.S. Economy, is available to to download here.
The S&P Global study concludes that U.S. West Coast ports serve as critical national economic engines.
Key findings from the report conclude that containerized and automotive trade supports:
Over 2.5 million U.S. jobs and contributes $448.8 billion to the U.S. GDP.
$176.2 billion in wages and salaries.
$104.1 billion in federal and state tax revenues.
$523.9 billion in U.S. goods which are moved through West Coast ports by liner vessels, accounting for 10.2% of all U.S. trade.
The study also revealed that 43.7% of all imports through West Coast ports are used as components and materials by American manufacturers and service providers – demonstrating the shipping industry’s central role in U.S. supply chains and production capacity.
“This report confirms the extent to which our maritime industry and U.S. West Coast container ports are deeply intertwined with the American economy,” said Mike Jacob, President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “It is critical that we ensure the adoption of smart policies and make investments in freight infrastructure in order to protect and grow the contributions of jobs, wages, growth, and tax revenues from the maritime sector. Likewise, we need to pause the imposition of unreasonable tariffs and ship fees that inhibit the positive economic contributions of trade facilitated by a robust maritime industry.”
“This analysis shows how important the services the liner industry provides at West Coast ports as a source of demand for U.S. employment, supporting US manufacturing and enabling U.S. exporters to reach customers overseas,” said Paul Bingham, Director of Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence and one of the study’s co-authors. “The finding that over 40% of the imports on liner vessels entering through West Coast ports are parts, components and other inputs used by U.S. businesses demonstrates how critical the liner industry is for U.S. manufacturing. These business activities support over 2 million jobs and account for over $408 billion of U.S. Gross Domestic Product.”
"Studies like these show the vital importance of international trade to the American economy," said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. "West Coast ports are a gateway for the products we buy every day and act as critical links to overseas markets for the nation's exports, in addition to many of the materials used for manufacturing that cannot be sourced domestically. As a seaport on the frontline of the U.S. economy, we support adoption of carefully calculated, deliberate policies that serve U.S. businesses and consumers."
“As America’s gateway to and from the Pacific Rim, the economic benefits of the San Pedro Bay port complex on our region and nation’s economy cannot be overstated,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Cargo from Southern California ports reaches each of our nation’s 435 Congressional districts and supports more than 2 million jobs across the country.”
“We at the Northwest Seaport Alliance are not surprised by the outsized impact our ports have on the U.S. economy and jobs. Our gateway supports almost 60,000 family wage jobs in the Puget Sound region, and 1 in 4 jobs in our state are tied to trade through our harbors” said John Wolfe, CEO of the Northwest Seaport Alliance. “This report reflects something we know well – our nation’s ports are critical players in the success and vibrancy of the U.S. economy.”
Last week, PMSA and the World Shipping Council released a national report by S&P Global titled Liner Shipping Industry Impact on the US economy. The national report found that the liner shipping industry made a substantial contribution to the US economy, supporting:
over 6.4 million jobs across the US,
contributing over $1.1 trillion to national US GDP,
and moving $1.5 trillion in US trade annually.
The full national S&P Global report is available for download here.
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About the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA)
PMSA is an independent, not-for-profit association which represents owners and operators of marine terminals, ocean carriers, and vessels operating on the US West Coast. PMSA maintains offices in Oakland, Long Beach, and Seattle. www.pmsaship.com
About the World Shipping Council (WSC)
The World Shipping Council is the united voice of liner shipping, working with policymakers and industry groups to shape the future growth of a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, safe, and secure shipping industry. WSC is a non-profit trade association with offices in Brussels, London, Singapore and Washington, D.C. www.worldshipping.org
About S&P Global Market Intelligence
S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global supplies information, intelligence and analytics to millions of customers around the world. S&P Global serves the instrumental functions of the world’s largest and most complex industries. The company powers global markets in every corner of the economy, through extensive networks and connections across business and government worldwide. www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence.