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Lat year, the Ports of Indiana handled 7.2 million tons of cargo, up 7 percent compared with 2008’s total primarily because coal, grain, salt and steel shipments registered gains.

“Indiana’s three ports handled more cargo in the last quarter of 2009 than in any other quarter since 2006, so hopefully that’s a harbinger for 2010,” said Ports of Indiana Chief Executive Officer Rich Cooper in a prepared statement.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon’s volume rose 20 percent as steel volumes were six times higher than in 2008; the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville’s salt imports reached an all-time high and jumped 62 percent, while grain cargoes increased 18 percent; and the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor exported about six times as much grain as in 2008 and increased salt shipments 42 percent.

The three ports are served by CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Co., Evansville Western Railway and Louisville & Indiana Railroad Co.