Virginia port broke container record, set second-best rail mark in July

The Port of Virginia in July handled 205,137 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), shattering the former single-month volume record of 199,448 TEUs set in October 2007.

"This is the first time in our history that we have eclipsed 200,000 TEUs in a single month," said Rodney Oliver, interim executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, in a press release. "The record-high container volume also marks the best fiscal-year start in the port's history."

On a year-over-year basis, July's volume rose 13.7 percent. Import volume climbed 14.9 percent to 98,774 TEUs and export volume jumped 12.7 percent to 106,363 TEUs.

In terms of breakbulk business, the Norfolk port in July handled 37,584 short tons, the best monthly mark since November 2012.

"Additionally, our rail volume continues to be strong: In July we handled 37,985 rail containers and that figure represents the second-best month for rail in the history of the port, after the all-time record set earlier in May," said Oliver.

The port is served by CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, Bay Coast Railroad Inc. and Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Co.