Possessing competitive advantages in natural resources and
geography, Louisiana is a center for energy exploration and
production, petrochemicals, pulp, paper, forest products,
agriculture, advanced materials and manufactured goods. Logistics
and transportation play a keynote in the support of industry
profitability. Thus, Louisiana is rich in transportation
resources.
Its vast port system helps Louisiana lead the logistics and
transportation industries. Home to the United States' largest
single port (measured by tonnage), the state boasts an exceptional
port system. That and the strong presence of other modes of
transportation make Louisiana an ideal location for any business
that requires significant transportation resources. Connected to
the nation's agricultural and industrial center by water, rail and
highway, Louisiana is a vital North American distribution and
logistics hub centered in the fastest-growing region of the United
States and at the center of Western Hemisphere trade.
Distribution Fulfillment Centers
Louisiana offers a full array of the resources and
infrastructure needed for the fulfillment-services industry. The
state's highway systems, railroads, deep-water ports and airports
are all valuable assets to businesses that provide third-party
logistics. The state's strategic geographic location allows
Louisiana access to major regional markets and international
destinations.
Ports
The Louisiana port system, including both deep-water and
shallow-draft ports, is one of the largest port systems in the
world, bringing millions of tons of cargo in and out of the
country. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest single port in
the United States, ranked by tonnage, and the ports of New Orleans,
Lake Charles, Greater Baton Rouge and Plaquemines all rank in the
top 15. About 2,300 miles of navigable inland waterways connect
each of Louisiana's six deep-water ports to the state's network of
eight coastal ports and 13 inland ports.
Due to its coastal location and natural waterways, Louisiana has
traditionally been a national leader in water transportation.
Louisiana's ports are vital to their respective local economies, to
the state's economy and to the economic well-being of the nation.
The value lies in their ability to transfer commodities to and from
local markets, regional markets, national markets and the worldwide
marketplace in a consistent and reliable manner. Because Louisiana
is geographically located along the center of the Gulf Coast, its
ports are ideally positioned to handle local, regional and
international cargo.
| Louisiana Port |
2007 Ranking |
Total Tonnage |
| Port of South Louisiana |
1st |
229,040,085 |
| Port of New Orleans |
8th |
76,045,540 |
| Port of Lake Charles |
11th |
64,234,040 |
| Plaquemines Port |
12th |
58,816,539 |
| Port of Greater Baton Rouge |
14th |
54,623,559 |
Rail
Louisiana is one of only two sites in the United States where
all six of North America's Class One railroads converge, providing
great capacity and choice. Railroad companies in Louisiana provide
common freight, private freight and passenger carrier services.
Recently, freight railroad services carried 33,000,869 tons of
cargo originating from Louisiana and 34,666,257 tons of cargo
terminating in the state. Chemicals, pulp and paper, and petroleum
products made up the vast majority of outgoing goods. Farm products
and chemical products represented approximately half of goods
coming into the state.
In addition to the Class One railroads, a number of local
railroad companies operate in Louisiana. These include Acadiana
Railway Company Inc.; Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi
Railroad; Louisiana & Delta Railroad Inc.; Louisiana &
North West Railroad Co.; Louisiana Southern Railroad Inc.; Ouachita
Railroad; Timber Rock Railroad Inc. and Delta Southern
Railroad.
The New Orleans Public Belt is unique among the railroads of the
United States in that it is a publicly owned and operated terminal
switching railroad. It is not owned or operated by the railroads
with which it connects, but rather by the community it serves,
placing ownership in the hands of New Orleans' citizens and
operation under the Public Belt Railroad Commission. Because it is
so connected with the Port of New Orleans, NOPB's commercial
knowledge and services are well-suited for an international
clientele.
| North America's Six Class One Railroads
in Louisiana |
| Railroad |
Miles of Rail |
| BNSF Railway |
348 |
| CSX Transportation |
43 |
| Grand Trunk Corporation |
263 |
| Kansas City Southern Railway Co. |
737 |
| Norfolk Southern Corp. |
81 |
| Union Pacific |
1,141 |
Highway
Louisiana is home to six interstate highways, all with access to
water and rail connections. The interstates - I-10, I-12, I-20,
I-49, I-55 and I-59 - total 903 miles and connect the state's major
urban areas. There is a current government effort at both local and
state levels to extend I-49 along a corridor of U.S. Hwy 90 that
would connect Lafayette with New Orleans. The project, dubbed "I-49
South," would add another 130 miles of interstate highway in the
state.
With an abundance of waterways and railroads, Louisiana offers
highway transport companies the opportunity to partner with other
modes of freight transportation to handle the high volume of
domestic and international shipments that originate and terminate
in the state.
Air
Louisiana's public and commercial airports can accommodate large
aircraft and are home to some of the world's leading aerospace
component manufacturers.
The state has seven commercial service/primary airports:
Lafayette Regional Airport, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport,
Alexandria International Airport, Monroe Regional Airport,
Shreveport Regional Airport, Lake Charles Regional Airport and
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Three military airports - Barksdale Air Force Base, Fort Polk
Army Airfield and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New
Orleans - and 45 general aviation airfields augment the state's
commercial airports.
Chennault Industrial Airpark in Lake Charles is home to four
aviation companies - Northrop Grumman, Aeroframe Services MRO,
Million Air Lake Charles and ERA Helicopters. Northrop Grumman and
Aeroframe recently expanded operations at Chennault International
Airport in Lake Charles, La., adding over 100 new jobs and
retaining more than 500.
Warehousing
Due to its abundance of ports and prominent role in commerce,
Louisiana has a wealth of warehouse space in close proximity to
commercial outlets. According to U.S. Census figures, the state has
3,004 warehousing firms doing business with a combined annual
payroll of $2.7 billion.
