Learn how California’s inland waterways—critical channels connecting the Sacramento and Stockton deep-water ports to the Pacific—face infrastructure challenges like severe shoaling, aging bridges, and insufficient dredging funding that threaten navigation, ag-export flows and foreign trade worth millions annually.

By Mike Jacob, President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association

Examine how 2025’s intermodal system shocks—rail bottlenecks, shifting carriage patterns, and coast-to-coast network constraints—may be reinforcing the pandemic-era divergence in volume and efficiency between U.S. West Coast ports and their inland/Atlantic counterparts. (pmsaship.com)

By Jock O’Connell, Economist

Explore how America’s containerized export trade is facing a crisis amid slowing globalization—examining declining export volumes, shifting global demand patterns, and structural challenges reshaping U.S. supply chains and port competitiveness.

Discover 2025 trade highlights for avocados, tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios), and bulk wine — including Mexico’s dominant role in U.S. avocado imports, export trends amid China trade disruptions, and resilient maritime wine shipment volumes through key gateways like the Port of Oakland.

By Susanne T. Stirling, Senior Vice President, California Chamber of Commerce

Container dwell times at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex remained consistent through November 2025, reflecting ongoing operational stability as the holiday season reached its peak. Both truck- and rail-destined cargo continued to move efficiently, supported by sustained coordination among marine terminal operators, drayage partners, and rail providers.

LONG BEACH, CA – The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) extends its congratulations and thanks to current Chief Executive Officer Mario Cordero for his years of dedicated leadership at the Port of Long Beach on the occasion of his upcoming retirement and also warmly welcomes Dr. Noel Hacegaba as he steps into the role as new Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2026.

By Jordan Royer, Vice President External Affairs, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association

LONG BEACH, CA – Mike Jacob, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), issued the following statement following today’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Board meeting…

Southern California’s business, labor, and community leaders are uniting behind the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach’s Cooperative Agreement with SCAQMD. This balanced, results-driven plan builds on decades of clean air progress and collaboration. Join us on November 7 to show your support for a cleaner, competitive future for our ports and communities.