advertisement

---

Last year, the Port of Long Beach, Calif., handled 6.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 25 percent compared with 2009 volume — the largest one-year increase in the port’s history, according to a prepared statement. In addition, the 1.2 million-unit gain represented the largest increase of any U.S. seaport.

Container moves jumped 23.6 percent, with imports rising 23.4 percent to 3.1 million TEUs and exports increasing 15.6 percent to 1.6 million TEUs. Empty container moves shot up 33.2 percent to 1.6 million TEUs, according to the port, which is served by BNSF Railway Co., Union Pacific Railroad and Pacific Harbor Line Inc.

“This was a tremendous rebound, and happened much faster than predicted,” said Richard Steinke, the port’s executive director.

In December, the port handled 523,311 TEUs, up 12 percent year over year and the 13th consecutive monthly gain. Imports rose 10.4 percent to 256,889 TEUs, exports climbed 14.7 percent to 141,140 TEUs and empty container moves increased 12.3 percent to 125,282 TEUs.

Meanwhile, the Port of Duluth-Superior in 2010 logged 39.8 million short tons, up 28 percent compared with tonnage handled during the “economically depressed navigation season of 2009,” according to the Duluth, Minn., port.

Iron ore shipments for the steel industry skyrocketed 79 percent to 14.6 million short tons. Grain volume jumped 68 percent as the port “helped meet global demand for wheat after crop failures in Russia and its neighboring countries,” according to the port, which is served by BNSF, CN, Canadian Pacific and UP.

In addition, “other” cargoes (including limestone, cement, salt, stone and wind turbine equipment) rose 30 percent year over year, and coal shipments were steady at 18.5 million short tons vs. 18.4 million in 2009.
 
“The rebound in iron ore shipments and steel-making operations mirrors optimism in other sectors that this country’s economic recovery is gaining strength,” said Adolph Ojard, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “Momentum bodes well for an equally strong start to the 2011 navigation season.”