Cargo Statistics: New Orleans, Philadelphia, Redwood City

The addition of new shipping services and an uptick in the national economy contributed to record container volumes at the Port of New Orleans in 2014. Final cargo figures for 2014, compiled by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), reveal that 5,950,319 metric tons of cargo were handed at the Port of Philadelphia’s maritime facilities in 2014, a 16.66 percent increase compared to the 5,100,385 tons of cargo handled in 2013. The Port of Redwood City experienced a 5 percent increase in cargo movement across its docks for the first half of fiscal year 2014-2015 that ended December 31, 2015.

The addition of new shipping services and an uptick in the national economy contributed to record container volumes at the Port of New Orleans in 2014. According to year-end totals, 490,526 20-foot-equivalent units moved through the port’s Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal during the 12 months – an 8.8 percent increase over the 2013 total of 451,057. 

"Strong export markets, primarily for chemical and agriculture products, together with new inbound customers, such as Chiquita contributed to record container volumes," said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. "New services in 2015, such as the recently announced CMA CGM weekly European service, and a full year of Chiquita cargo could translate into robust results again in 2015." 

The port welcomed a new weekly European service from French container carrier CMA CGM February 2 with the arrival of the CMA CGM Jamaica. In addition, Chiquita Brands International, along with their sailing partner Mediterranean Shipping Company, began weekly service to the Port in October, after relocating its shipping operations to New Orleans after a 40-year hiatus. 

New Orleans Terminal and Ports America jointly operate the container terminal – with New Orleans Terminal handling the new Chiquita cargo and Ports America handling the CMA CGM service. The new services join existing customers MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Seaboard Marine, CSAV, Zim, NYK, Orient Overseas Container Line, American President Line, Hyundai and MOL offering regular container services at the terminal. In an effort to attract new container services, the Port’s Board of Commissioners recently approved a new incentive dockage rate for a new service’s first 20 vessel calls. 

Port of Philadelphia Reports 16 Percent Jump in Cargo In 2014

Final cargo figures for 2014, compiled by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), reveal that 5,950,319 metric tons of cargo were handed at the Port of Philadelphia’s maritime facilities in 2014, a 16.66 percent increase compared to the 5,100,385 tons of cargo handled in 2013. Further, 2014’s total cargo tonnage marked the fifth consecutive year of double-digit cargo growth at the Port of Philadelphia. 

"In the wake of the national economic downturn of a few years ago, we became more aggressive than ever in improving and marketing the Port," said PRPA Chairman Charles G. Kopp. "As a result, we’re now experiencing our fifth consecutive year of major cargo increases at our facilities."  

In addition to dramatic tonnage increases, 2014 also marked a particularly large increase in container counts at the port, with 449,122 TEUs moving through the Port of Philadelphia in 2014, compared to the already healthy 367,499 TEU’s handled in 2013. This marked a 22.21 percent increase. Counted as tonnage, 2,916,148 metric tons of containerized cargo moved through the Port in 2014, a 19.36 percent increase over the year before. All told, containers have shown consistent growth in the past several years at the Port of Philadelphia. Containers are handled at PRPA’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, the port’s largest and busiest facility. 

Break bulk cargoes (cargoes not shipped in containers, with the exception of vehicles and liquid bulk) experienced a healthy gain of 14.44 percent in 2014 when compared to 2013. In all, 1,382,861 metric tons of break bulk cargoes were handled in 2014, compared to 2013’s 1,208,350 tons. Highlights include steel, which was up 49.53 percent, with 394,717 tons handled; and forest products, which were up 28.2 percent, with 614,843 tons handled.  

Port of Redwood City Reports 5 Percent Increase in Cargo Movement for 1st Half of Fiscal Year 2014-2015

The Port of Redwood City experienced a 5 percent increase in cargo movement across its docks for the first half of fiscal year 2014-2015 that ended December 31, 2015.

Imported sand and aggregates accounted for 691,276 metric tons (MT), or nearly 79 percent of the tonnage for the first half of the fiscal year. This was nearly 8 percent more than the same period last fiscal year. These products are used in Silicon Valley and Redwood City construction projects.

The next largest tonnage was exported shredded scrap metal, totaling 135,876 MT, or nearly 16 percent of the total second half tonnage. Although not large quantities, imported bauxite, domestic sand and ground slag added to the mix of inbound cargo.

Fifty-four vessels (30 ships and 24 barges) made calls during the first half of FY 15 compared to 36 vessels (30 ships and 6 barges) during the first half of FY 14.

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