Port of Tacoma

What Port of Tacoma does

Port of Tacoma is an independent municipal corporation and public port district established in 1918 and operating under Title 53 of the Revised Code of Washington. It owns approximately 2,500 acres of the Tacoma Tideflats on Commencement Bay in south Puget Sound, including 2,300+ acres of industrially zoned property, 610,000 sq ft of warehousing, 757,000 sq ft of industrial space, and 345,000 sq ft of office space. The Port's marine cargo operations — including container, breakbulk, bulk, and auto import terminals — are managed through The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), a 2015 joint venture with the Port of Seattle that forms the 4th-largest container gateway in the U.S., handling nearly 3 million TEUs and 23.8 million metric tons in 2023. The Port also operates Foreign-Trade Zone #86, one of the largest on the U.S. West Coast, and has invested more than $200 million in environmental remediation across approximately 1,345 acres of owned property.

The Port generates revenue from three primary streams: transaction-based marine cargo fees (vessel berthing, cargo handling, terminal services routed through NWSA), recurring real estate leasing to industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution tenants, and a dedicated property tax levy reserved exclusively for debt repayment, environmental projects, and transportation investments. Its core customer base spans global container shipping lines (Maersk, Evergreen, Sea-Land), Alaska/Hawaii carriers (TOTE), bulk cargo operators (TEMCO Grain, Georgia Pacific Gypsum), automotive importers (Taylor Way Auto Facility), and a long tail of regional industrial tenants. Distribution is enterprise-direct: container, breakbulk, and bulk terminals through NWSA, and direct long-term land and building leases.

Beyond cargo operations, the Port operates environmental programs (habitat restoration at 21 sites totaling 213+ acres, water and air quality monitoring, cleanup remediation), community programming (tours, events, public access sites), and workforce development initiatives, most notably the Maritime|253 skills center scheduled to open Fall 2026 in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools. The organization is governed by five elected commissioners and led by Executive Director Eric Johnson (since 2019). Port activity supports 41,095 jobs in Pierce County and $10.8 billion in total business output, though the Port's own operating revenue is not publicly disclosed in the available data.

Name

Port of Tacoma

Legal name

Port of Tacoma

Website

https://portoftacoma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Port of Tacoma is an independent municipal port district operating deep-water container, breakbulk, bulk, and auto terminals through The Northwest Seaport Alliance with the Port of Seattle, while leasing 2,300+ acres of industrial property and supporting 41,000+ jobs in Pierce County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations and Marine Terminal Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Deep-Sea Container Terminals (Mainline / Transshipment Hubs) (TLAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Breakbulk & Project Cargo Handling (Heavy Lift, Out-of-Gauge Handling) (TLAHALAH), Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE)

Keywords

• Port operations services
• Marine cargo handling
• Industrial real estate leasing
• Container terminal management
• Foreign trade zone

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Marine Cargo Operations: Revenue generated from marine cargo handling through container terminals, breakbulk facilities, and bulk cargo operations managed by The Northwest Seaport Alliance. Includes fees for vessel berthing, cargo handling, and terminal services.
2. Real Estate Leasing: The Port leases industrial land and buildings to companies for logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. Properties include 2,300+ acres of industrially zoned property, 610,000 sq ft of warehousing, 757,000 sq ft of other industrial space, and 345,000 sq ft of office space.
3. Property Tax Levy: The Port levies property tax used exclusively for debt repayment, environmental projects, and transportation investments. The tax levy is not used for Port operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Port of Tacoma operates marine cargo terminals (container, breakbulk, bulk, and auto) primarily through The Northwest Seaport Alliance joint venture with Port of Seattle, and leases over 2,300 acres of industrially zoned real estate including warehousing, industrial, and office space. It also administers Foreign-Trade Zone #86, one of the largest on the U.S. West Coast, offering customs duty deferral and simplified customs procedures to international trade businesses.

Product overview

The Port of Tacoma is a municipal port authority offering maritime cargo operations and commercial real estate services through multiple integrated business lines. The core offering includes container shipping terminals and breakbulk/bulk terminals managed through The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), which handles approximately 23.8 million metric tons of cargo and nearly 3 million TEUs annually. Supporting services include over 2,300 acres of industrially-zoned real estate for lease, Foreign-Trade Zone #86 (one of the largest on the U.S. West Coast), and environmental remediation services. The Port also operates community-facing programs including Maritime|253 (a maritime skills training center opening Fall 2026), public access sites at habitat restoration areas, tours and events, and workforce development initiatives. The organization is governed by a five-member elected commission and operates as an independent municipal corporation under Title 53 of the Revised Code of Washington.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Shipping Terminals
• Breakbulk and Bulk Terminals
• Industrial Real Estate Leasing
• Foreign-Trade Zone #86
• Contracting and Procurement
• Habitat Restoration
• Maritime|253 Skills Center

Quantifiable outcome

• 41,095 jobs supported in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Marine cargo operating partnership between the Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle, formed in 2015. NWSA manages container, breakbulk, auto, and some bulk terminals in Seattle and Tacoma. It is the first partnership of its kind in North America and is the fourth-largest container gateway in the United States. The NWSA handles nearly $75 billion in international trade and supports over 48,000 jobs.
• Washington State Department of EcologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership for environmental remediation of Port-owned properties. The Port works with Ecology on remedial action grants, upland source cleanup, and compliance with environmental regulations. The Port has received over $34 million in funding through Ecology's Remedial Action Grants.
• Puyallup Tribe of IndiansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship on habitat restoration, land use planning, and Tideflats development. The Tribe provided the name 'q(w)iq(w)ǝlut (Place of Circling Waters)' for habitat sites. Joint involvement in Tideflats Subarea Plan and various environmental projects.
• Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning coordination ensuring planning between Pierce County and its cities is accomplished in a coordinated manner. PCRC is comprised of elected officials from Pierce County, 23 cities and towns, and the Port of Tacoma.
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional policy development and coordination for growth, transportation, and economic development within King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties. PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional planning.
• Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on transportation infrastructure including SR 167 Completion Project, I-5/Port of Tacoma Road Interchange, and Puget Sound Gateway Program connecting the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle.
• Sound TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on regional transit expansion including Sounder South Capacity Expansion and Tacoma Dome Link Extension connecting Federal Way to Tacoma.
• City of TacomamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Tideflats Subarea Plan approved in December 2025, Maritime Center development, and various infrastructure projects. Partnership on public access and community development initiatives.
• City of FifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint work on Port of Tacoma Road/I-5 Interchange project and Canyon Road Regional Connection Project connecting Frederickson to the Port.
• Pierce CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on regional projects including Canyon Road Regional Connection and Hazard Mitigation Plan. Partnership through Pierce County Regional Council.
• Port of SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. Combined marine cargo operations form the fourth-largest container gateway in the U.S. Joint commitment to Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.
• Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (British Columbia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and port operations in the shared airshed.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Blair Waterway Deepening Program and East Commencement Habitat Opportunity (ECHO) site using clean dredge material for habitat creation.
• Tacoma Public Schools - Maritime|253majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop maritime workforce through skills center opening Fall 2026 at Port Maritime Center. Maritime|253 will provide hands-on, career-driven training at no cost to high school students.
• Youth Marine FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for youth maritime training programs using the Doolin-Rogers training vessel and Thea Foss Waterway campus. Foundation provides marine science education and entry pathways into maritime industry.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Port of Portland: Pacific Northwest port handling container, breakbulk, and bulk cargo. Competes for regional industrial tenants and shipping-line calls.
• Port of Vancouver (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority): Canada's largest port and a direct competitor for Asia-bound Pacific Northwest cargo. Partnership counterpart in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.
• Port of Stockton: Inland deep-water port in California handling bulk, breakbulk, and containerized cargo. Comparable inland-port business model and bulk-handling capabilities.
• Prince Rupert Port Authority: Canadian Pacific gateway offering fast Asia-to-North America transit times. Directly competitive for trans-Pacific container volume that could otherwise call at Tacoma.

Direct peers

• Port of Seattle: Co-owner of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. Operates marine cargo terminals in Seattle and is the joint partner in container, breakbulk, auto, and bulk operations at Tacoma.
• Port of Oakland: Major U.S. West Coast container gateway handling trans-Pacific cargo. Comparable scale of container terminal operations and intermodal connections.
• SSA Marine (Carrix): Independent marine terminal operator with significant West Coast container terminal operations. Comparable business providing stevedoring and terminal services.
• Ports America: Largest U.S. marine terminal operator, providing stevedoring and terminal management services at multiple U.S. ports — a potential operating partner or competitor for terminal services.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Los Angeles: Largest U.S. container port and direct competitor on the West Coast. Operates container, breakbulk, and bulk terminals for trans-Pacific trade.
• Port of Long Beach: One of the largest U.S. container ports and a direct competitor for trans-Pacific cargo. Comparable deep-water container terminal operations with intermodal connections.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portoftacoma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port of Tacoma