Economic Impacts 2024

In 2024, marine cargo activity within the New Orleans Port District supported a total of $101.5 billion of total economic value to the United States economy, of which $31.5 billion of total economic value was supported in the state of Louisiana. This represents about 8.3% of the $377.8 billion Louisiana GDP.

342,150

$20.4B

$7.68B

$31.5B

Federal, State, & Local Taxes

Economic Value to Louisiana

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An icon of three stylized human figures, with one green in the center and two blue on the sides, representing a group or team.

Port-Related Income

Total Jobs

A stylized illustration of a factory emitting zigzag smoke with water beneath it.
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Local Impacts

Black and white aerial photo of a cargo ship named BUXCLIFF docked at the port with containers on board and large cranes overhead at Port NOLA.
Large cargo ship docked at port with multiple blue cranes overhead, stacked with various colored containers.
Workers in safety gear observing wind turbine blades being installed on a ship at a construction site.
Workers install a large wind turbine blade using cranes on a ship docked at a port, with a clear blue sky in the background.
Container ship being loaded or unloaded at a port using a crane.
A shipping port with a large blue container crane lifting a cargo container onto a cargo ship, which is docked. There is a white vehicle with yellow and black caution markings and a person wearing a yellow helmet nearby.

Explore Port NOLA’s economic impacts in key states

In 2024, cargo activity moving through the Port NOLA marine terminals supported 342,150 jobs in the United States.

Port NOLA Advantage

The Port of New Orleans is a diverse deepwater port uniquely located on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico. This naturally strategic location allows unparalleled access to 30-plus major inland hubs such as Dallas, Memphis, Chicago and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, six Class I railroads and interstate roadways. The alignment with New Orleans Public Belt Railroad strengthens our position as an integrated hub and supports our vision for regional freight-based economic development. 

Port NOLA generates more than $120 million in revenue annually through our four lines of business — cargo, rail, industrial real estate and cruises. As a self-sustaining political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, we receive zero tax dollars.