Worried that the newly improved Panama Canal is going to steal shipping from West Coast ports (which would definitely have an impact in Phoenix)? Rest easy. A new report by CBRE asserts that the ports of LA and Long Beach alone see more than 40% of the nation’s container volume, and that volume is only expected to increase. That's good news for Phoenix, CBRE SVP Pat Feeney tells us, since "the flow of goods between Arizona and those ports has huge implications on our local and state economies.”

Considering its port infrastructure (well suited to handle the largest cargo container ships), the region's workforce and other factors, SoCal will remain the preferred port for importers and exporters alike, Pat says, adding that locally, companies that have a significant stake in the logistics industries can be found Valley-wide. "For instance, metro Phoenix has been established as a major emerging e-commerce hub,” he says.