Louisiana Economy: Port of South Louisiana
Overview
The Port of South Louisiana’s district covers 54 miles along the Mississippi River in the River Parishes region. Its footprint spans three parishes, St. Charles, St. James and St. John the Baptist. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest tonnage port in the western hemisphere and is estimated to be responsible for 60% of all Louisiana exports and 15% of all U.S. exports.
Its associated trade zone, Foreign Trade Zone #124, recently reported an annual total of $65.1 billion in products received 5,068 individuals employed. In 2025, the port reported 65,684,575 short tons of exports, 45,258,872 short tons of imports and 248,253,326 short tons of total trade.
Sites
Summary
There are 31 individual sites associated with the Port of South Louisiana. St. James parish is home to 17, 54.8%, of those sites and St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes are home to seven sites a-piece.
Site Acreage
There are approximately 17,008 acres associated with the Port of South Louisiana’s sites. The majority, 68.2%, of the acreage sits in St. James parish. There is 2,794 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. John the Baptist parish and there is 2,607 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. Charles parish.
River Frontage
There is approximately 50,917 feet associated with the Port of South Louisiana’s sites. The majority, 52.0%, of the acreage sits in St. James parish. There is 12,275 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. John the Baptist parish and there is 12,144 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. Charles parish.
Rail Frontage
There is approximately 79,377 feet associated with the Port of South Louisiana’s sites. A large share, 45.6%, of the acreage sits in St. James parish. There is 29,515 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. Charles parish and there is 13,648 acres associated with the 17 sites in St. John the Baptist parish.
Businesses
Summary
There are 52 unique businesses operating within the Port of South Louisiana’s district. St, James parish is home to 21 businesses, St. John the Baptist parish is home to 16 businesses and 15 businesses are operating in St. Charles parish.
Ownership Type
For the 52 businesses operating in the Port of South Louisiana, 80.4% are domestic and 19.6% are international.
Home Location
For the 52 businesses operating in the Port of South Louisiana, 36.2% are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the remaining 63.8% are privately owned or traded on international stock exchanges.
Headquarters
Publicly Traded (NYSE) Companies: Sector
Yahoo Finance categories businesses operating in the Port of South Louisiana’s district into four sectors.
Basic Materials
Number of Unique Companies: 7
Number of Companies in Sector: 283
Sector’s Market Weight: 2.8%
Energy
Number of Unique Companies: 6
Number of Companies in Sector: 254
Sector’s Market Weight: 4.7%
Consumer Defensive
Number of Unique Companies: 2
Number of Companies in Sector: 255
Sector’s Market Weight: 4.9%
Utilities
Number of Unique Companies: 1
Number of Companies in Sector: 110
Sector’s Market Weight: 2.2%
Basic Materials
Companies that manufacture chemicals, building materials, and paper products. This sector also includes companies engaged in commodities exploration and processing. Companies in this sector include ArcelorMittal, BHP Billiton, and Rio Tinto.
Agricultural Inputs: Companies that manufacture nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers, pesticides, seed, and other agricultural chemical products.
The Mosaic Company (MOS)
Chemicals: Chemical manufacturing companies engaged in diverse chemical and chemical-related operations, and basic chemicals manufacturing.
Dow Inc. (DOW)
Coking Coal: Companies that produce coking coal.
SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC)
Specialty Chemicals: Companies that use base chemicals to produce value-added chemicals that are used in a variety of products. Includes companies that produce polishes, adhesives and sealants, explosives, printing ink, paint, carbon black, acids, repellants, and cleaning solutions.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD)
DuPont de Nemours (DD)
Ecolab Inc. (ECL
Steel: Companies that produce steel plates, steel sheets, bar and rod materials, structural steel, steel pipes and tubes, and stainless steel.
Nucor Corporation (NUE)
Energy
Companies that produce or refine oil and gas, oilfield-services and equipment companies, and pipeline operators. This sector also includes companies that mine thermal coal and uranium. Companies in this sector include BP, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and China Shenhua Energy.
Oil & Gas E&P: Energy companies which are primarily engaged in oil and gas exploration and production.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY)
Oil & Gas Integrated: Major energy companies engaged in the diverse aspects of oil and gas operations, including crude oil and gas exploration, production, manufacturing, refining, marketing, and transportation.
Shell plc (SHEL)
Oil & Gas Midstream: Companies that own and operate oilfield pipelines and are involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural crude petroleum.
MPLX LP (MPLX)
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA)
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing: Companies that refine, gather, market, and sell petroleum and petroleum products.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)
Consumer Defensive
Companies that manufacture food, beverages, household and personal products, packaging, or tobacco. Also includes companies that provide services such as education and training services. Companies in this sector include Philip Morris International, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart.
Farm Products: Companies that produce, raise, and grow agricultural and farm-based food products, including fruits, vegetables, other crop products, cattle, and eggs. Also includes seafood products.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)
Bunge Global SA (BG)
Utilities
Electric, gas, and water utilities. Companies in this sector include Electricité de France, Exelon and NextEra Energy Inc.
Utilities - Regulated Electric: Companies that generate, transmit, or distribute electric energy for sale.
Entergy Corporation (ETR)
