advertisement

---

Another month, another tonnage record for the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. In November, the port handled 431,000 tons of freight — the first time in the port's 34-year history it exceeded 400,000 tons. In October, the port handled 375,000 tons. November tonnage was spurred by high volumes of grain, steel and limestone, which totaled 369,000 tons.

The port now is on pace to record its highest annual tonnage since 1998. Through November, the port handled 2.3 million tons, a 35 percent increase compared with the same 2003 period. Volumes were up for steel (70 percent), grain (61 percent), salt (9 percent) and limestone (7 percent).

"We are seeing new lines of business that will continue to grow in the years to come," said Port Director Steve Mosher in a prepared statement. "We are partnering with our transportation providers, which allows us to market this port as [a] distribution center for the Midwest."

In November, the Ports of Indiana's three facilities handled 6.9 million tons. Steel, coal and grain volumes rose 81 percent, 57 percent and 38 percent, respectively, compared with November 2003.

Through November, the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon surpassed 3 million tons, a 48 percent increase compared with a similar 2003 period. During the same timespan, the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville handled 1.6 million tons, up 29 percent.