Port Traffic Metrics: Great Lakes/Seaway, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Virginia
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August Great Lakes/Seaway Traffic Buoyed by Cargo Diversity
"As we approach the mid-year point of the 2016 navigation season we continue to see a diversified mix of cargoes moving throughout the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System," said Betty Sutton, administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. "Cargo diversification is an important factor in keeping our Great Lakes ports busy, and that was clearly reflected in last month’s Seaway traffic."
During the month of August, export cargoes consisted of general cargo, containerized cargo, wheat, soybeans and corn. Imports of aluminum arrived at the ports of Oswego and Toledo, and for the second straight month, windmill components at the Port of Ogdensburg. Chicago, Cleveland, Burns Harbor, and Milwaukee received bulk shipments of steel and high-value project cargoes consisting of machinery and mechanical presses. The Port of Ashtabula in northeast Ohio handled large quantities of rutile and ilmenite sand from Australia and Kenya.
At the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, grain rose by nearly 17 percent and project cargo by 66 percent, season-to-date. "During August, our stevedores discharged numerous pieces of large machinery and specialized equipment for Midwest manufacturers," said Port Director Rick Heimann. "Cargoes included European generators, cranes and tanks. The port also saw an increase in grain shipments during August as 22,000 tons were shipped to our trading partners in Quebec."
The Port of Milwaukee "received some good news with the announcement of a grant from the State of Wisconsin which will fund 80 percent of the cost of a $2.2-million rail improvement project at the port," said Port Director Paul Vornholt. "When completed, this project will strengthen the connection between the Seaway and destinations beyond the western Great Lakes."
"Commodity markets are not fully recovered, which means shipments of iron ore and coal through the Port of Duluth-Superior are still running below average," said Vanta Coda, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. "However, there are two highlights at this point in the 2016 shipping season: the port authority’s nearly $18 million dock redevelopment project is just weeks away from completion and, as of August, grain shipments were running some 18 percent ahead of last year."
"We’ve seen a lot of aluminum and project cargo so far this year," said Joe Cappel, PPM®, vice president of business development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "We welcome these shipments because they put folks to work at the dock. We also have a good system in place for coordinating the movement of project cargo through the port and region and try to make it as easy as possible for our customers to capitalize on the advantages of our inland waterway."
The St. Lawrence Seaway handled some 17.2 million metric tons of cargo through August 31 of the season that began March 21. That is down 7.5 percent from the comparable 2015 period. In detail, the data show year-to-date declines for bulk cargo (-14 percent), iron ore (-18 percent), coal (-8 percent), and general cargo (-6 percent). Among the positives were "steel slabs and other general cargo," with an increase from last year of "almost 70 percent."
Long Beach: August Exports Up, Container Volumes Overall Down
Exports surged, but fewer imports and empties caused a drop in container volumes overall this August at the Port of Long Beach.
Total throughput amounted to 641,029 TEUs, down 8.9 percent from the record month of August 2015. Imports alone accounted for 321,625 TEUs (-10.2 percent), exports for 159,247 TEUs (+14.8 percent) and empty containers for 160,157 TEUs (-22.5 percent).
The port notes that shipping lines are continuing to consolidate service routes to optimize vessel utilization during the holiday peak season and in anticipation of the new, planned ocean carrier alliances. It also notes that domestic retail inventories remain high. August throughput was unaffected by Hanjin’s August 31 filing for court receivership.
The calendar year count through August totaled 3,359,226 TEUs, down 1.9 percent compared to the first eight months of 2015.
View the latest monthly cargo numbers.
Los Angeles: August Container Volumes at Near Record High
The Port of Los Angeles in August experienced its busiest month in nearly a decade. Container volume of 798,932 TEUs was up 1.6 percent compared to August 2015. That gave the port its second busiest month ever, eclipsed only by 800,063 TEUs in October 2006.
The August data show across the board increases from last year for inbound loads (+0.6 percent), outbound loads (+6.3 percent), and empty containers (-0.2 percent).
Year-to-date throughput totaled 5,620,400 TEUs, a 4.3 percent increase compared to January-August 2015.
"Strong numbers on both our import and export cargo during the industry’s peak season indicates confidence in our ability to meet supply chain expectations," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "While our industry is currently facing many challenges, the Port of Los Angeles remains committed to handling the nation’s cargo with speed, efficiency and first-class service."
View current Los Angeles container traffic data.
Virginia Port Sets Single-Month Record for TEUs; Rail, Richmond Volumes Grow
The Port of Virginia reports container throughput at its Hampton Roads terminals increased 7 percent from a year ago to a monthly high in August of 235,511 TEUs. It was also the port’s seven consecutive month in which throughput exceeded 210,000 TEUs.
Other positives among the August data were containers transported by rail (+20 percent), truck (+0.4 percent), and via the Richmond Marine Terminal (+33.3 percent). View further details here.
"The peak-season cargo is moving and those volumes are putting the port on pace to exceed last year’s total of 2.5 million TEUs," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "We are building our reputation on consistent delivery of service; we are on solid financial ground and we are gathering momentum as we move into a period of expansion and construction."
The focus, Mr. Reinhart said, "will be to maintain the momentum and continue to improve in all phases of our operations" as the port undertakes several large construction projects designed to increase capacity and improve efficiency."
Specifically he noted, "The North Gate project at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) will create 26 new gates for trucks and be complete by mid-2017," he said. "Prior to the North Gate project completion, we will break ground on a $350 million project at NIT that will add the capacity to handle 400,000 more containers annually – and do it more safely, swiftly and sustainably than ever before. Additionally, our re-negotiation of the lease at Virginia International Gateway is productive and we believe, nearing its final phase."
"As we approach the mid-year point of the 2016 navigation season we continue to see a diversified mix of cargoes moving throughout the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System," said Betty Sutton, administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. "Cargo diversification is an important factor in keeping our Great Lakes ports busy, and that was clearly reflected in last month’s Seaway traffic."
During the month of August, export cargoes consisted of general cargo, containerized cargo, wheat, soybeans and corn. Imports of aluminum arrived at the ports of Oswego and Toledo, and for the second straight month, windmill components at the Port of Ogdensburg. Chicago, Cleveland, Burns Harbor, and Milwaukee received bulk shipments of steel and high-value project cargoes consisting of machinery and mechanical presses. The Port of Ashtabula in northeast Ohio handled large quantities of rutile and ilmenite sand from Australia and Kenya.
At the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, grain rose by nearly 17 percent and project cargo by 66 percent, season-to-date. "During August, our stevedores discharged numerous pieces of large machinery and specialized equipment for Midwest manufacturers," said Port Director Rick Heimann. "Cargoes included European generators, cranes and tanks. The port also saw an increase in grain shipments during August as 22,000 tons were shipped to our trading partners in Quebec."
The Port of Milwaukee "received some good news with the announcement of a grant from the State of Wisconsin which will fund 80 percent of the cost of a $2.2-million rail improvement project at the port," said Port Director Paul Vornholt. "When completed, this project will strengthen the connection between the Seaway and destinations beyond the western Great Lakes."
"Commodity markets are not fully recovered, which means shipments of iron ore and coal through the Port of Duluth-Superior are still running below average," said Vanta Coda, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. "However, there are two highlights at this point in the 2016 shipping season: the port authority’s nearly $18 million dock redevelopment project is just weeks away from completion and, as of August, grain shipments were running some 18 percent ahead of last year."
"We’ve seen a lot of aluminum and project cargo so far this year," said Joe Cappel, PPM®, vice president of business development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "We welcome these shipments because they put folks to work at the dock. We also have a good system in place for coordinating the movement of project cargo through the port and region and try to make it as easy as possible for our customers to capitalize on the advantages of our inland waterway."
The St. Lawrence Seaway handled some 17.2 million metric tons of cargo through August 31 of the season that began March 21. That is down 7.5 percent from the comparable 2015 period. In detail, the data show year-to-date declines for bulk cargo (-14 percent), iron ore (-18 percent), coal (-8 percent), and general cargo (-6 percent). Among the positives were "steel slabs and other general cargo," with an increase from last year of "almost 70 percent."
Long Beach: August Exports Up, Container Volumes Overall Down
Exports surged, but fewer imports and empties caused a drop in container volumes overall this August at the Port of Long Beach.
Total throughput amounted to 641,029 TEUs, down 8.9 percent from the record month of August 2015. Imports alone accounted for 321,625 TEUs (-10.2 percent), exports for 159,247 TEUs (+14.8 percent) and empty containers for 160,157 TEUs (-22.5 percent).
The port notes that shipping lines are continuing to consolidate service routes to optimize vessel utilization during the holiday peak season and in anticipation of the new, planned ocean carrier alliances. It also notes that domestic retail inventories remain high. August throughput was unaffected by Hanjin’s August 31 filing for court receivership.
The calendar year count through August totaled 3,359,226 TEUs, down 1.9 percent compared to the first eight months of 2015.
View the latest monthly cargo numbers.
Los Angeles: August Container Volumes at Near Record High
The Port of Los Angeles in August experienced its busiest month in nearly a decade. Container volume of 798,932 TEUs was up 1.6 percent compared to August 2015. That gave the port its second busiest month ever, eclipsed only by 800,063 TEUs in October 2006.
The August data show across the board increases from last year for inbound loads (+0.6 percent), outbound loads (+6.3 percent), and empty containers (-0.2 percent).
Year-to-date throughput totaled 5,620,400 TEUs, a 4.3 percent increase compared to January-August 2015.
"Strong numbers on both our import and export cargo during the industry’s peak season indicates confidence in our ability to meet supply chain expectations," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "While our industry is currently facing many challenges, the Port of Los Angeles remains committed to handling the nation’s cargo with speed, efficiency and first-class service."
View current Los Angeles container traffic data.
Virginia Port Sets Single-Month Record for TEUs; Rail, Richmond Volumes Grow
The Port of Virginia reports container throughput at its Hampton Roads terminals increased 7 percent from a year ago to a monthly high in August of 235,511 TEUs. It was also the port’s seven consecutive month in which throughput exceeded 210,000 TEUs.
Other positives among the August data were containers transported by rail (+20 percent), truck (+0.4 percent), and via the Richmond Marine Terminal (+33.3 percent). View further details here.
"The peak-season cargo is moving and those volumes are putting the port on pace to exceed last year’s total of 2.5 million TEUs," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "We are building our reputation on consistent delivery of service; we are on solid financial ground and we are gathering momentum as we move into a period of expansion and construction."
The focus, Mr. Reinhart said, "will be to maintain the momentum and continue to improve in all phases of our operations" as the port undertakes several large construction projects designed to increase capacity and improve efficiency."
Specifically he noted, "The North Gate project at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) will create 26 new gates for trucks and be complete by mid-2017," he said. "Prior to the North Gate project completion, we will break ground on a $350 million project at NIT that will add the capacity to handle 400,000 more containers annually – and do it more safely, swiftly and sustainably than ever before. Additionally, our re-negotiation of the lease at Virginia International Gateway is productive and we believe, nearing its final phase."
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