Port of Los Angeles: New Terminal to Boost Capacity After 10.2M TEU Year

Port of Los Angeles launches Pier 500, a new container terminal, with a 2025 RFP to handle next-gen vessels and maintain its U.S. cargo dominance.

Port of Los Angeles: New Terminal to Boost Capacity After 10.2M TEU Year
January 27, 2026 1:38 am
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🛑 Key Takeaways:
  • The Port of Los Angeles is proceeding with its Pier 500 container terminal, issuing a pre-development RFP in October 2025.
  • The project specifies a 200-acre site with two new berths and approximately 3,000 linear feet of wharf.
  • This expansion aims to handle next-generation vessels and secure the port’s #1 U.S. ranking after a slight 1% volume dip to 10.2 million TEU in 2025.

LOS ANGELES, USA – The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has initiated the pre-development phase for its Pier 500 Marine Container Terminal, part of a 2026 infrastructure plan to increase cargo capacity. The port issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in October 2025 for the project, which is the first new container terminal to be developed at the port in a generation. The expansion follows a year where the port handled 10.2 million TEU, its third-busiest year on record despite a 1% decrease from 2024.

CategorySpecification / Detail
ProjectPier 500 Marine Container Terminal
LocationTerminal Island, Port of Los Angeles (South of Pier 400)
Total Area200 acres
Wharf Length~3,000 linear feet
New Berths2
Project StatusPre-development RFP issued (October 2025)
2025 Port Volume10.2 million TEU (-1% vs 2024)

Operational & Technical Details

The Pier 500 terminal is the core of POLA’s “Building Bigger and Build Smarter” framework. It will be constructed on a 200-acre site at the southernmost point of Terminal Island. This location is directly south of Pier 400, the port’s current largest terminal. The new facility is designed to accommodate the next generation of large cargo ships, which require deeper drafts and longer berths.

Port officials envision Pier 500 as the “greenest and cleanest terminal in the world.” This aligns with broader goals to reduce emissions while increasing operational efficiency. The project aims to integrate advanced technology, building on the port’s decade-long use of digital tools like Wabtec’s Port Optimizer for real-time cargo tracking.

Market Impact Analysis

The development of Pier 500 is a strategic investment to solidify POLA’s market dominance. Despite global trade volatility in 2025, the port maintained its position as the busiest in the U.S. for the 26th consecutive year. The slight dip in container volume highlights the need for infrastructure that can improve efficiency and attract the largest, most cost-effective vessels.

By adding significant capacity, the terminal directly addresses future cargo demand projections. The project is expected to create jobs both at the docks and throughout the regional supply chain, reinforcing the port’s economic importance after generating $333 billion in trade in 2024.

📅 Originally Published: December 2025
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FAQ: Quick Facts

What is the main purpose of the Pier 500 project?

The terminal is designed to increase the Port of Los Angeles’ overall cargo capacity, improve operational efficiency, and accommodate next-generation large cargo ships.

When is the expected completion date?

A completion date has not been announced. The project entered the pre-development phase with an RFP issued in October 2025.