Mario Cordero will retire as executive director of the Port of Long Beach at the end of 2025, after overseeing a 28 per cent rise in container volumes and championing environmental initiatives, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners will meet shortly to discuss a transition plan, the port said. Mr Cordero described his tenure as "the opportunity of a lifetime."

Mr Cordero became executive director in May 2017 after serving as a harbour commissioner and as a member of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in Washington. He is a Los Angeles native and practised law for over 30 years.

He frequently stated his dual goals of growing cargo volumes and promoting sustainability. He proposed the port's green initiative in 2003, which was ratified as the Green Port Policy in 2005.

He served on the port's governing board until 2011, when he was appointed to the FMC by President Barack Obama. He chaired the FMC from 2013 to 2017 before returning to Long Beach.

In 2017, the port handled 7.5 million TEU. By last year, volumes had reached 9.6 million TEU, according to the port's website.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson praised Cordero's leadership, saying he guided the port through unprecedented times with vision and steadiness.