North America’ s most productive port two years running
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PHILADELPHIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
With tens of millions of tons of cargo moving through the Port of Philadelphia( PhilaPort) each year, the region is a premier East Coast entry point for global commerce. From containers and breakbulk to perishables; pharmaceuticals; and highvalue, temperature-controlled goods, Philadelphia’ s modern logistics network
reflects a city that has remained relevant, resilient and remarkably productive since the nation’ s founding.
Deepwater access on the Delaware River, along with proximity to interstates and the rail network across the Northeastern US, gives Philadelphia a uniquely efficient freight platform that provides superior connectivity to and from regional and national supply chains.
According to the World Bank and S & P Global’ s Container Port
Performance Index, PhilaPort is the most productive container port in North America, handling $ 7.1 billion in produce and $ 20.4 billion in food products annually. S & P Global is the parent company of Journal of Commerce.
Philadelphia’ s trade and logistics ecosystem ultimately begins on the waterfront, where cargo terminals have
PhilaPort has received $ 1 billion in both public and private investments over the last 10 years.
earned global recognition for their speed and efficiency.
“ We are the most productive container port in North America for the second year in a row,” said Sean Mahoney, director of marketing at PhilaPort, highlighting the port’ s CPPI ranking against approximately 400 container ports around the world. The index measures time to berth, time to work the ship, time to move the cargo across the dock and time to get the ship on its way.
PhilaPort’ s productivity can be attributed in part to the $ 1 billion it has received in both public and private investments over the last 10 years. These funds have been utilized for new cranes, berth expansions, yard improvements, cold-chain infrastructure and more.
However, the port’ s“ amazing labor, terminal operator Holt, and significant investments by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” are instrumental to its success, Mahoney noted.
At Holt Logistics, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, this recognition is both a milestone and a motivator.
“ Transporting products from ship to store faster than any port in the country is what we do,” said Christian Holt, director of real estate and marketing at Holt Logistics.
Commitment is a persistent theme throughout the region’ s maritime community. PhilaPort’ s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal( PAMT), operated by Greenwich Terminals, was ranked No. 1 in North America for efficiency, according to the CPPI. Gloucester
North America’ s most productive port two years running
For the second year in a row, PhilaPort was ranked # 1 in North America for container port productivity, according to the Container Port Performance Index from the World Bank and S & P Global( parent company of Journal of Commerce).
This accomplishment, along with record container throughput and the acquisition of 173 acres in the port district, made 2025 a memorable year indeed for The Port of Philadelphia.
The Container Port Performance Index evaluates key metrics of port productivity, including time to dock a ship, time to offload cargo, time for cargo to cross the terminal and time to get the ship away. This data is reported to the World Bank by global ocean carriers. For the 2025 ranking, PhilaPort placed 25 spots higher than any other US port.
“ This accolade is well earned by PhilaPort’ s labor, terminal operator HOLT, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for making strategic investments in port infrastructure. This productivity explains our record growth and the intense commitment that shippers have to the Port of Philadelphia,” said Sean Mahoney, senior marketing director at PhilaPort.
PhilaPort handled a record 889,268 TEUs in 2025, representing a 6 % year-over-year increase in container volume. PhilaPort’ s container volumes have increased by 39 % since 2020, reflecting sustained, long-term growth.
“ We have invested substantial capital dollars over the past 10 years, as have our terminal operators and other stakeholders— about $ 1 billion overall— which has allowed us to accommodate this growth and maintain productivity,” Mahoney said.
The acquisition of 173 acres of land, which includes a rail intermodal yard, in the port district is another great accomplishment for PhilaPort. It is difficult to find new land in dense US cities in the Northeast, especially near ports. This new land will allow PhilaPort to grow even more.
Despite tariff and geopolitical challenges, 2026 is shaping up to be another solid year: the first cruise ship will arrive at the new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal on April 16, tariffs have been reduced on food products, and public and private infrastructure improvements continue. Finally, several new container services herald continued cargo growth.
56 Journal of Commerce | May 4, 2026 www. joc. com