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CALIFORNIA GATEWAY create 19 acres of land to allow for additional container stacking and the ability to host two ultra-large cargo ships at the same time. A public-private project in conjunction with terminal operator International Transportation Service( ITS), the slip fill could boost the terminal’ s capacity by 50 % and will likely come online in early 2029.
Also in the works is the Metro Express Terminal at Pier S, a 24 / 7 zero-emissions container terminal with an annual capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.
“ You’ re going to have zero-emissions trucks making loops throughout the day and night, picking up those containers and moving them out as quickly as possible,” Hacegaba said.“ It’ s going to be the world’ s first zero-emission, humanoperated container terminal.”
Long Beach also recently released a notice of preparation for Pier T redevelopment, a 17-year project that would more than double the capacity at the Total Terminals International( TTI)- operated terminal.
“ In that process, every phase will add capacity, every phase will reduce emissions and every phase will help that terminal operator maximize its footprint,” Hacegaba said.
Impacts of tariffs
As stiff federal tariffs were levied on many regular US trading partners throughout 2025, the conventional wisdom was that those tariffs would negatively affect cargo imports, particularly in California— home to the two largest and busiest seaports in North America, as well as a highly trafficked inland port.
That has not necessarily been the case, although port leaders noted that the impact has been felt.
“ These tariffs affect different supply chains at different intervals, and fortunately, the port has been able to assist our steel shippers and receivers
“ We have to think more strategically about how we maximize the footprint we have.”
with an abundance of storage and delivery options,” Vezzali said.“ Ironically, we saw a 110 % increase in steel imports from 2024 to 2025.”
Notably, steel remains subject to existing Section 232 measures rather than the new tariffs introduced in July. Section 232 gives the president authority to restrict imports if they are found to“ threaten to impair” US national security. This focuses www. joc. com September 7, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 47