16 Los Angeles Throughput: 7,849,984teu (-6.0%)

Los Angeles managed to maintain its crown as the busiest port in the US, but fell three places in the Top 100 table in a difficult year for ports heavily involved in trade between North America and Asia.

The port faired marginally better than its neighbouring rival Long Beach, but it was not a happy year for either.

Early figures suggest that 2009 will be even worse with Los Angeles seeing a year-on-year decline of 16.2% in the first five months. February was particularly brutal with a year-on-year contraction in volumes of 32.6%.

During its most difficult period of contraction in a decade, the port has finally approved the construction of a new terminal for China Shipping that will be built in three phases over the next six years.

China Shipping's expansion will allow the group to handle an annual throughput of 1.5m teu by doubling its land area from 29ha to 57ha.

Los Angeles has suffered as shipping lines facing low utilisation rates have deployed larger tonnage in other trades.