Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville surpasses 2 million tons of cargo in 2016

The Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville handled 2.2 million tons of cargo in 2016, marking the third straight year the port exceeded 2 million tons of cargo.

The port's annual shipping total was 17 percent higher than the previous five-year average. Major cargoes included steel, grain and fertilizer, port officials said in a press release.

"The continued strength of the automotive sector along with steady improvement in building construction fueled our solid results in 2016," said Port Director Scott Stewart.

In addition, the first installment of infrastructure construction in and around the port was completed last year, Stewart added.

"The December opening of the Lewis & Clark Bridge links southern Indiana to Louisville and beyond and greatly enhances the port's connectivity to the region's manufacturing sector, including Ford's Kentucky truck plant in Louisville which is now only 15 minutes away," he said.

Steel shipments last year — second highest in port history — were boosted in part by U.S. auto industry demand. The port has a total of 14 companies that process or handle steel, aluminum, lubricants or plastics that support the top six automakers in the United States, port officials said.

Also last year, POSCO, a multinational steel producer based in South Korea, announced plans to locate a wire rod processing center at the port. The center is expected to begin operations by August.

Moreover, Mill Steel completed the move of its Midwest building/painted products division to the port last year, while Idemitsu Lubricants America Corp. completed a $7 million expansion at the port last year.

CSX and Louisville & Indiana Railroad Co. serve the port and interchange with Norfolk Southern, CN, Indiana Rail Road Co., Paducah & Louisville Railway and Canadian Pacific.