As more companies move to diversify where they source and manufacture their products overseas, major rail infrastructure will play an even more significant role in keeping ports like Long Beach competitive, Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba said Wednesday during a virtual media briefing.

Hacegaba discussed Southeast Asia’s rising market share of trade — particularly Vietnam, now the Port of Long Beach’s second-largest trading partner behind China — and made the case for the Port’s biggest ongoing construction project – the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.

As it is completed, the facility will offset the longer transit times ships from Southeast Asia would need to arrive in Long Beach, he said.

(L to R) Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Anne Reinke, President & CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America

“To build the Port of the Future™ and double our annual cargo volumes to 20 million containers by 2050, rail must be part of the conversation,” Hacegaba told reporters at his Supply Chain Insight media briefing. “Speed to market is the key to our success and rail connectivity is the key to our future. Intermodal is having a moment and we are doing our part to turn that moment into momentum.”

The media briefing welcomed Anne Reinke, President & CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America, who spoke with Hacegaba about the value of intermodal and the importance of strengthening cargo security and funding rail infrastructure projects.

Hacegaba also delved into the Port of Long Beach’s historic August cargo volumes, which he attributed to tariff-driven frontloading of goods and transit restrictions at the Panama Canal.

Long Beach dockworkers and terminal operators moved 919,992 twenty-foot equivalent units last month, the busiest August on record and up 2% from August 2025.

“The Port of Long Beach continues to make historic strides in cargo movement,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “These numbers reflect our dedication to customer service and our long-standing reputation as a world-class seaport.”

Imports rose 3.6% to 456,100 TEUs, exports were up 4% to 99,754 TEUs and empty containers dipped 0.39% to 364,138 TEUs. Year-to-date, the Port of Long Beach has moved 6,678,078 TEUs through the first eight months of 2026, up 1.3% compared to the same period last year.