The Port of New Orleans announced that it continues to chart strong momentum across its diversified business lines—containerised cargo, breakbulk, rail, industrial real estate and cruise—during its 2025 State of the Port Address. The event also featured a “Waterside Chat” among key industry executives, emphasising how the port’s multimodal connectivity, infrastructure expansion and strategic partnerships are fueling growth.
Leadership revealed the findings of a newly released Economic Impact Report, conducted by Martin Associates and completed in August 2025, which highlights the port’s significant contribution to both state and national prosperity. The report shows that in 2024, marine-cargo activity within the port district supported approximately US$101.5 billion in total economic value to the U.S. economy, including about US$31.5 billion in Louisiana — roughly 8.3 % of the state’s GDP. The cargo activity supported 342,150 jobs across the nation, including 122,386 jobs in Louisiana alone.
The port also spotlighted its major infrastructure initiative, the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT), a transformative container-terminal project that underpins its long-term strategy to expand capacity, strengthen supply-chain resilience and establish Louisiana as a leading Gulf-region gateway for global trade. Investment milestones cited include US$49 million in breakbulk infrastructure upgrades, and deep partnerships with private-sector players such as Ports America and Terminal Investment Limited (MSC).
In her remarks, the port’s President & CEO stated, “New Orleans was born of the river, and our future will rise from it too.” The Board Chairman added that the newly formed alliance of five Lower Mississippi River ports, the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor and LIT will generate over 18,000 jobs, more than US$1 billion in new tax revenue for state and local levels, and represent one of the most significant federal port-infrastructure investments in U.S. history.
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Source: Port of New Orleans
