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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) handled 32.8 million metric tons of cargo in 2007, besting 2006’s 31.2 million metric tons and setting a new record.

General cargo exports rose 18.8 percent to 10.8 million metric tons while general cargo imports remained flat at 22 million metric tons. The value of all cargo handled through the port totaled more than $166 billion, up 11 percent compared with 2006. In addition, the port handled a record 5.3 million 20-foot equivalent units.

PANYNJ’s ExpressRail on-dock intermodal rail terminals also set a high-water mark in 2007, handling 358,043 containers compared with the previous record of 338,884 containers set in 2006. The growth continued in early 2008 — ExpressRail handled a monthly record of 32,735 containers in January.

Because authority officials expect volume to continue increasing during the next decade, they have an expansion plan in the works. PANYNJ is considering adding 119 acres of cargo container space on the eastern end of the Port Jersey peninsula.

In addition, PANYNJ is on track to complete its ExpressRail on-dock rail system by 2011, providing the capacity to handle 1.5 million containers by rail annually. PANYNJ recently completed tracks 10 through 18 at the ExpressRail Elizabeth facility and has begun construction of another lead track into the rail facility. Later this year, the authority also will begin building a track west of Corbin Street in Port Newark and Elizabeth that will support the entire ExpressRail system and provide capacity for three additional two-mile-long trains.