Graphic Version

Annual TEU per Acre has been used to compare U.S. container ports with each other and (often unfavorably) with foreign ports

Annual TEU per acre can be a misleading metric.

• TEU per acre measures land productivity, but land may be the least costly terminal asset
• On-dock rail intermodal facilities add to acreage and distort comparisons
• Terminal expansion adds capacity but reduces TEU per acre
• Some terminals have moved chassis and empty container storage to off-dock sites, effectively increasing acreage
• Higher CY storage densities increase TEU per acre but also increase costs and truck turn times