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Last month, the Ports of Indiana handled about 700,000 tons of cargo -- the most freight to enter the port system during the past three years. Located in Burns Harbor, Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville, Ind., the ports also handled the 150-millionth ton of cargo in the statewide port authority's more than 30-year history.

During the year's first nine months, the ports handled 5.1 million tons of cargo, a 36 percent increase compared with the same 2003 period. Coal, steel, grain, fertilizer and limestone traffic rose 75 percent, 42 percent, 23 percent, 19 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

"We attribute this growth to the focus we've placed on increasing business with our existing customers and attracting new business opportunities," said Rich Cooper, the ports chief operating officer, in a prepared statement.

In September, the ports of Mount Vernon, Jeffersonville and Burns Harbor increased tonnage 55 percent to 2.4 million, 34 percent to 1.3 million tons and 13 percent to 1.5 million, respectively, compared with similar 2003 data.