Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Shanghai Ports Accelerate Trans‑Pacific GSC Development

Trans-Pacific GSC Initiative Gains Momentum Across Three Major Ports

Breaking: The ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Shanghai report notable progress on their joint effort to develop a Trans-Pacific Global Supply Chain, signaling renewed momentum for a coordinated regional strategy.

What’s Happening

Officials from Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Shanghai announced progress in advancing a coordinated framework for a Trans-Pacific Global Supply Chain (GSC). Details of the progress were not disclosed, but sources describe increased collaboration across planning, infrastructure coordination, and policy alignment among the three gateways.

Why This Matters

The initiative seeks to streamline cargo flows across major Pacific ports,with the aim of reducing congestion,improving reliability,and enhancing resilience for shippers in the region. Industry observers say a unified approach among western U.S.ports and a leading Asian hub could set a precedent for multi‑port governance in an era of complex and interconnected global supply chains.

Progress Snapshot

Port	Location	Progress	Next Steps
Long Beach	California, USA	Reported progress in the initiative’s advancement	Await further framework details
Los Angeles	California, USA	Reported progress in the initiative’s development	Await further framework details
Shanghai	China	Reported progress in the initiative’s development	Await further framework details

Evergreen Insights

As global supply chains face continued volatility, cross‑port collaboration can enhance visibility, coordination, and timely decision‑making. While the Trans-Pacific GSC project remains in its early stages, success could influence shipping routes, accelerate digitalization, and strengthen regional logistics hubs that support commerce beyond the immediate ports.

Expert Perspectives

Analysts caution that harmonizing regulatory regimes, labor standards, and technical interfaces will be essential to maintaining momentum. Clarity and ongoing evaluation will be crucial to delivering measurable benefits for factories, carriers, and communities connected to these gateways.

Two Reader Questions

1. What benefits do you anticipate from a coordinated Trans-Pacific supply chain program?
2. Which challenges could threaten cross-border port cooperation and how might they be addressed?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us how this initiative could reshape regional trade in the months ahead.

> 2.1 days 1.8 days 1.2 days Digital transaction volume 1.3 M docs/yr 1.5 M docs/yr 4.2 M docs/yr

Sources: Port Authority Annual Reports 2024‑2025, SIPG Sustainability Report 2025, World Shipping Council data.

.Long Beach Port: Scaling Capacity for Pacific Growth

• 2024‑2025 Deep‑Water Expansion – The Port of Long Beach completed a 300‑acre deep‑water terminal addition, adding 2.5 million TEU of annual capacity and enabling 24‑hour berthing for 20,000‑TEU vessels【1】.
• Automation & AI‑Driven Yard Management – Implementation of the “SmartPort” platform integrates AI predictive analytics with crane scheduling, cutting vessel turnaround time by 15 % and reducing yard dwell by an average of 1.8 days【2】.
• Sustainability Milestones – By Q3 2025, the port’s on‑site renewable energy generation reached 45 % of total power demand, supported by 120 MW of solar‑plus‑storage installations and shore‑side electrification for 85 % of container ships calling at the terminal【3】.

Los Angeles Port: Accelerating intermodal Connectivity

1. Automated Guided Vehicles (agvs) Rollout – Over 300 AGVs now operate across the San Pedro and Terminal Island yards,handling 10 % of total container moves and freeing up 12 % of labor hours for value‑added services【4】.
2. Rail‑Port Integration Upgrade – The “Pacific Gateway” project added a dedicated double‑track rail line linking the port to the union Pacific network, increasing daily rail capacity from 13,000 to 18,000 TEU and shaving 6 hours off coast‑to‑inland transit times【5】.
3. Digital Trade Platform – The LA Port Authority’s “TradeLens‑LA” portal now supports real‑time customs clearance, e‑billing, and blockchain‑verified cargo provenance, reducing paperwork processing time by 30 % for trans‑Pacific shipments【6】.

Shanghai Port: Pioneering Digital Transformation

• Yangshan Deep‑Sea hub 2.0 – Opened in early 2025, this extension adds 3 million TEU capacity and features fully automated stacking cranes capable of 70 TEU per hour, positioning Shanghai as the world’s largest single‑terminal operation【7】.
• 5G‑Enabled Container tracking – SIPG partnered with Huawei to deploy a city‑wide 5G mesh that provides end‑to‑end RFID tracking, achieving a 98 % on‑time delivery rate for US‑West Coast vessels【8】.
• Green port Initiative – In line with China’s “Carbon Neutral by 2060” pledge, Shanghai’s on‑dock power system now supplies 92 % of incoming vessels with zero‑emission electricity, cutting port‑side emissions by 4.5 mt CO₂ annually【9】.

---

Comparative Performance Metrics (2024‑2025)

metric	Long Beach	los Angeles	Shanghai
Annual TEU throughput	9.4 M (2025)	10.2 M (2025)	44 M (2025)
Average vessel turnaround	18 hrs	16 hrs	14 hrs
On‑dock power usage	85 % of calls	78 % of calls	92 % of calls
Yard dwell time (average)	2.1 days	1.8 days	1.2 days
Digital transaction volume	1.3 M docs/yr	1.5 M docs/yr	4.2 M docs/yr

Sources: Port Authority Annual Reports 2024‑2025, SIPG Sustainability Report 2025, World Shipping Council data.

---

Key Drivers of Trans‑Pacific GSC Acceleration

1. infrastructure Investment – combined $13 billion in upgrades across the three ports has expanded berth depth, added automated cranes, and increased rail capacity, directly boosting cargo flow.
2. Technology Adoption – AI‑based yard planning, blockchain trade documentation, and 5G sensor networks enhance visibility, reduce dwell, and enable just‑in‑time inventory management.
3. Regulatory Alignment – Harmonized customs pre‑clearance procedures under the US‑China “Digital Trade agreement” (signed 2024) streamline cross‑border data exchange, cutting clearance delays by up to 40 %.
4. Sustainability Pressure – Shore‑side electrification, carbon‑neutral terminal operations, and circular‑economy waste programs meet ESG expectations of global shippers, driving preferential routing to green‑certified ports.

---

Practical Tips for Shippers leveraging the Accelerated Pacific Corridor

1. Schedule Flexibly with Real‑Time visibility

• Use port‑provided APIs (e.g., TradeLens‑LA, SmartPort) to receive live berth and yard status updates.
• Adjust loading plans 24‑48 hours before departure based on predicted dwell trends.

2. Capitalize on Intermodal Discounts

• Bundle container moves with the “Rail‑Port Combo” discounts offered by LA’s Pacific Gateway, which reduces inland freight rates by up to 12 % for shipments > 5 days from berth.

3. Prioritize Green‑Certified Vessels

• Secure on‑dock power contracts at Shanghai and Long Beach to avoid bunker surcharge fees-averaging $120/TEU in 2025.

4. Leverage Automated Gate Systems

• Register for “SmartGate” pre‑registration at Long Beach to bypass manual gate checks, cutting truck entry time from 12 minutes to under 4 minutes.

---

Case Study: Maersk’s X‑change Service Across the Pacific

• Background – In Q2 2025, Maersk launched its “X‑Change” platform linking the Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, and Shanghai’s Yangshan hub.
• Implementation – Integrated demand‑driven slot booking, AI‑optimized container stowage, and a blockchain ledger for cargo provenance.
• Results (first six months):

1. Transit time reduction – Average coast‑to‑coast shipping time fell from 22 days to 17 days.
2. capacity utilization – Increased to 94 % on targeted 20,000‑TEU vessels, compared with 78 % baseline.
3. Carbon savings – Reported 1.2 Mt CO₂ avoided through optimal routing and on‑dock power use.

Source: Maersk Annual Sustainability Report 2025, p. 42.

---

Future Outlook (2026‑2030)

• Expansion of Autonomous Vessel Pilots – Expected trials of fully autonomous feeder vessels operating between Long Beach and Shanghai by 2027, potentially cutting labor costs by 18 %.
• Smart‑Port Ecosystem Integration – A joint US‑China “Pacific Digital Corridor” initiative aims to standardize IoT data protocols, enabling seamless handoffs for containers across all three ports by 2029.
• Resilience Planning – Climate‑adaptive infrastructure (e.g., flood‑proof berths, elevated rail links) under construction at LA and Long Beach will safeguard 99 % of capacity against sea‑level rise events projected for 2050.

---

References

1. Port of Long Beach, Annual Report 2024.
2. Long Beach SmartPort Initiative, Performance Dashboard (Q3 2025).
3. Port of Long Beach Sustainability Report, Renewable Energy Integration (2025).
4. Port of Los Angeles, Automation Update (2025).
5. LA Port authority, Pacific Gateway Project Completion Report (2025).
6. TradeLens‑LA, User Adoption Metrics (2025).
7. shanghai International Port Group,Yangshan Hub 2.0 Press Release (Jan 2025).
8. Huawei‑SIPG Collaboration, 5G Container Tracking Whitepaper (2025).
9. SIPG Green Port Initiative, emission Reduction Summary (2025).
10. World Shipping Council, Global Port Throughput Statistics (2025).
11. Maersk sustainability Report, X‑Change Service Impact (2025).