Getting Stuff From Here to There

The value of goods and services traded internationally grew from 25% of global GDP in 1970 to more than 60% today. Goods are more than 75% of this growth in value traded. The global supply chains developed to move these goods are the core of the logistics sector that now accounts for more than 10% of global GDP--and even more in California. China, the United States, and Germany account for 30% of the value of trade in goods. Most goods are moved by ship, rail, or truck, although high-value goods may be moved by air. More than 40% of all goods consumed in the United States flow through the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. Each of these two ports rivals the New York/New Jersey port complex, the largest on the East Coast, in volume of goods. Together, the Ports are the ninth largest container port globally. But although they occupy almost 17,000 combined land and water acres, the Ports are spatially constrained.