Commerce

From the Port of Humboldt Bay in the North to the Port of San Diego in the South, our seaports are vital conduits in the global economy. 

The ports across our state connect California’s farmers and autoworkers, its refineries and laboratories, to customers around the world.  They connect us all to a broad array of imports, from cell phones to slacks, furniture to forklifts, computers to toys.

Given California’s relative proximity to Asia, much of that trade occurs with China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and others.  The Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s top-ranked international gateway, conducted more than $1 billion in trade with 19 nations in 2019.  In addition to China and 13 other Asian nations, including India and Cambodia, that list also features Germany and Italy in Europe, Brazil in South America, Mexico in North America and Australia. 

Its neighbor, the Port of Long Beach, topped $1 billion in two-way trade with its top 14 trade partners, including many of the same Asian nations.
The Port of Oakland’s trade with 12 nations topped $1 billion including four in Europe – Germany, France, Italy and Spain as well as a host of Asian nations. 

During the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, California ports have met the moment by stepping up to play a critical role in our state’s response and recovery.  Our ports have been critical in keeping cargo and essential goods flowing in a time when our country has depended on an efficient supply chain more than ever.