Top 10 Busiest Ports In The U.S.

Seaports exist on either end of every maritime shipment. Within them, cargo (containerized, dry bulk, breakbulk, roll-on-roll-off (ro/ro), etc.) is delivered, handled, transferred and stored prior to, and following, transport.

This is a big business, particularly within the U.S. where — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — 41.1 percent (over $1.8 trillion) of the U.S.’ international trade value was handled by ports in 2021. In 2020 alone, more than 1,700 million tons of cargo moved through U.S. ports.

With these numbers in mind, it’s safe to assume most businesses interact with a seaport at some point. When you do — whether it's for importing cargo or exporting it — you need to understand your options (and what to think about when choosing a port).