How a Downtown LA Exporter Built a $40M Bridge Between California and Southeast Asia

On a Tuesday morning in the Arts District, Maria Chen walks through the sprawling warehouse of Pacific Rim Logistics, pointing out pallets of California almonds, wine-region equipment, and aerospace components destined for Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. The 48-year-old founder has quietly built one of Los Angeles County's most successful export operations—generating roughly $40 million in annual revenue while employing 120 people across three facilities.

Chen's journey reflects a larger truth about Los Angeles in 2026: as trade tensions reshape global commerce and companies diversify away from single suppliers, the city's historical role as a Pacific trade hub is experiencing an unexpected renaissance.

"People assume everything goes through Shanghai now," Chen said during a brief break. "But LA has advantages nobody talks about—we're closer to major US production centers, our ports are reliable, and our international talent pool is unmatched." Her company, founded in 2008 from a small office near the Fashion District, now operates from a 85,000-square-foot facility on Mateo Street, with additional warehousing in Vernon and Long Beach.

The numbers tell a compelling story. According to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, international trade through LA's ports has grown 23 percent since 2022, with Southeast Asian markets representing the fastest-growing segment. Pacific Rim Logistics captures a meaningful slice of that traffic, handling everything from agricultural exports to specialized manufacturing components.

What distinguishes Chen's operation is her focus on small and mid-sized manufacturers who lack international experience. "Most of our clients have 50 to 500 employees," she explained. "They make great products but get overwhelmed by customs documentation, logistics, regulatory compliance. We handle that complexity so they can focus on production."

The approach has created a loyal customer base. One longtime client, a Valencia-based precision machining company, tripled its Southeast Asian revenue within three years of partnering with Pacific Rim. Another, a Riverside wine equipment manufacturer, now sells to every major winery in Vietnam.

Chen's success also reflects LA's demographic advantages. Her team includes native speakers of Mandarin, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and Tagalog—fluencies that prove invaluable when navigating regulatory systems or negotiating with regional partners.

As protectionist trade policies continue reshaping global commerce, Chen sees opportunity where others see risk. "Companies need partners they can trust in the Pacific," she said. "That's always been LA's superpower. We're just reminding people it still is."

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