Port Traffic Metrics: Green Bay

Green Bay: Shipments Slow In May

The Port of Green Bay experienced a 40 percent drop in cargo throughput this May to 176,767 metric tons from 295,866 tons in May 2015. Mostly to blame were steep declines in coal, cement, limestone and petroleum products. 

The May numbers significantly impacted year-to-date data, down 18 percent from March-May 2015 to 322,203 tons.

"We did see a decrease in tonnage in May, but it’s not unusual to have month-to-month changes," said Dean Haen, director for the Port of Green Bay. "This slower month comes after we posted very strong numbers in April. It’s still early in our shipping season, so we’re optimistic that the numbers will pick up again in the coming months."

Shipments of certain commodities rose from last year’s levels, including domestic inbound and foreign imports of salt and foreign export of petroleum products.

Twenty-eight ships called the port through May, seven less than a year. Mr. Haen said that was partially due to higher water levels, allowing a single vessel to carry more tonnage per trip this year than last and thus reducing the number of vessels needed to move cargo.

Green Bay’s 14 marine terminal operators together handled a total of 1.9 million tons of cargo in 2015.