Louisiana’s Lower Mississippi River Ports Unite Under New Investment Commission

Data News Staff Edited Report

Collectively, the five deepwater ports along the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) represent one of the most powerful economic engines in the United States. Together, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, St. Bernard Port, and Port of Plaquemines handle more than 500 million short tons of cargo annually, a volume greater than any single U.S. port and often described as the nation’s busiest port system.Stretching across 250 miles of ship channel deepened to 50 feet up to Baton Rouge, the LMR Corridor enables fully laden New Panamax bulkers and tankers to serve global markets. The system is a critical artery for the nation’s economy, responsible for moving over 60% of U.S. Grain Exports (corn, soybeans, and wheat), exporting more than 20% of America’s coal and petroleum cargoes, and connecting directly into 14,500 miles of inland waterways, pulling freight from over 30 states.

From Independence to Collaboration 
For decades, each port operated independently. Now, under the recently established Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, Louisiana’s ports are working in unison to identify and prioritize transformative infrastructure projects.

At its most recent meeting, the commission highlighted three key investments:

The Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish

The Peters Road Bridge in Plaquemines Parish, connecting to Jefferson Parish

A new deepwater dock in Ascension Parish to support Hyundai Steel

The Hyundai Project is among the first tangible outcomes of this collaboration. As part of Hyundai’s $6 billion investment in Louisiana, the Port of South Louisiana will build and operate a $26 million deepwater dock on land controlled by the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.

A Global Trade Strategy for Louisiana 
This new era of port cooperation aligns with Louisiana’s broader push to expand its international trade footprint. The administration of Governor Jeff Landry has launched a targeted global trade strategy, narrowing Louisiana’s focus to Japan, Australia, and select European nations, markets that align with the state’s competitive strengths in energy, aerospace, and logistics. To lead and manage this effort, the state has contracted with the World Trade Center of New Orleans.

Positioning Louisiana for the Future 
With the Lower Mississippi River ports now moving in lockstep, Louisiana is strengthening its role as a critical hub for U.S. trade. By investing strategically and pursuing targeted global markets, state leaders and port officials are positioning Louisiana to capture new opportunities in global commerce while reinforcing the historic importance of the Mississippi River as America’s gateway to the world.