Cargo Statistics: Brazil, Redwood City, Virginia

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Approximately 214.5 million metric tons of cargo moved through the the Brazilian port system in during first quarter 2013, an increase from year ago of 4.5 percent, or 9.5 million tons. Eleven ships and four barge calls in May set a monthly record for the Port of Redwood City, and cargo throughput also hit a record high. The Virginia Port Authority’s May report show across-the-board gains for all traffic categories, container traffic at record levels, and an operating profit for the third month in a row.

Brazil: First Quarter Port Traffic up 4.6 percent

Approximately 214.5 million metric tons of cargo moved through the the Brazilian port system in during first quarter 2013, an increase from year ago of 4.5 percent, or 9.5 million tons, according to data compiled and reported by the national waterways agency, Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (ANTAQ).

The tonnage total includes foreign, cabotage and "inland navigation" cargo handled at the nation’s 33 "organized ports" and 103 "private use terminals" (or TUPs).

Dry bulks acciounted for 127.7 million tons ( 5.7 percent), liquid bulks for 54.8 million tons ( 4.5 percent), and general cargo for 32.1 million tons ( 1 percent).

Container volumes increased 10 percent to 2.1 million TEUs. Organized ports accounted for 74.2 percent of the container volume, but the increase overall was largely the result of a 37.6 percent throughput jump at private use terminals.

Ten ports handled 85.6 percent of the 89.5 million tons of cargo shipped through the organized ports. Star performers were the ports of Itaguaí (with an increase from first quarter 2013 of 4.5 million tons), Suape ( 1.3 million tons) and Paranaguá ( 1.2 million tons). Santos, the nation’s largest organized port, experienced a drop of 3.7 percent to 21 million tons, according to ANTAQ.

Private use terminals together moved 135.1 million tons during the first quarter, in increase of 1 percent from first quarter 2013. The principal cargos by weight were iron ore, fuels and mineral oils, bauxite, soya beans, and coal.

Full details are available in ANTAQ’s Boletim Portuário correspondente ao 1? Trimestre de movimentação de carga.

Redwood City: Record Cargo Tonnage, Ship Calls in May

Eleven ships and four barge calls in May set a monthly record for the Port of Redwood City, reports Executive Director Michael J. Giari. Cargo throughput also hit a record high and included: imported sand and aggregates – 112,926 metric tons, imported sand – 94,683 tons, imported aggregates – 40,537 tons, and exported shredded metal – 21,305 tons.

A construction boom in Silicon Valley in recent years has been a primary factor toward a substantial increase in cargo received at the Port of Redwood City. The majority of the cargo shipped to the port is high quality sand and aggregate material, transported from British Columbia, Canada.

Construction has been on the rise throughout Silicon Valley, particularly due to growing high-tech companies making more hires, and as a result, needing more space. For example, Apple, Facebook, Google and Samsung all have plans to expand current offices or build on new sites in the region. Redwood City also is experiencing a construction boom, with thousands of housing units and major office construction throughout the city.

"This record month demonstrates that the port and the companies operating at the port have the capacity and capability of handling a high level of shipping activity," Mr. Giari said. "The efficiency of moving these construction materials to where they are needed in Silicon Valley helps to keep projects on schedule and building costs lower."

Virginia: May Containers Up 6.7 percent, Record Rail Volume, Profits Continue

The Virginia Port Authority’s May traffic data show gains across the board for its marine terminals in the Port of Hampton Roads, putting them on course to another record year. The agency also posted an operating profit for the third month in a row: $360,000.

The May data show container throughput up 6.7 percent to 204,232 TEUs from 191,368 in May 2013, with gains of 8.9 percent for inbound loads, 8.1 percent for outbound loads, and a 3.2 percent for empty containers. It was the port’s third highest monthly TEU count ever

Other data show increases of 7.5 percent for containerized cargo tonnage, 25.6 percent for breakbulk tonnage, 13.2 percent for containers barged via the James River between Hampton Roads and Richmond, 4.8 percent for rail containers, 22.8 percent for Virginia Inland Port containers, and 20.1 percent for vehicle units.

The port’s calendar year-to-date TEU count hit a record high of 950,251, an increase of 8.2 percent from January-May 2013. Fiscal year-to-date volumes through May were also a record, 2,119,508 TEUs. Click here for detailed monthly and year-to-date comparisons.

In May, the last of 32 new yard hustlers were delivered to Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), where they are being used to support rail operations. Additionally, the Motor Carrier Task Force completed its report and continues to implement changes at NIT focused on improving turn-times for motor carriers.

"We were profitable in May, but we are still in the early stages of recovery and stabilizing this port," said John F. Reinhart, the port authority’s executive director and CEO. "I am confident in saying that we are working as a team, changing our behaviors and we are seeing some encouraging results. This is a long-term commitment to improve our delivery of service and profitability. This trend must continue: moving forward, improving service, controlling costs and increasing velocity are our priorities and mandates."