For the second consecutive month, the public marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore handled a record number of containers. In July, 63,740 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) containers made their way across Baltimore’s docks, breaking an all-time record set one month earlier in June with 57,277 TEU containers. Prior to these back-to-back record months, the previous record was 56,454, set in July 2005 and before the economic downturn.

“This is another positive sign that we are making progress in recovering from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Having more containers coming through the Port of Baltimore two months in a row means consumer demand is slowly returning and more purchases are being made. More containers crossing our docks is also good news for jobs at the Port as it means more hours of work for our dedicated labor force.”

In addition to an improving economy, the Maryland Port Administration which oversees the Port of Baltimore’s public terminals has been successful in signing two of the world’s leading container shipping companies to long-term contracts. In 2008, the Mediterranean Shipping Company and Evergreen Marine Corporation signed extended agreements guaranteeing their continued business through the Port of Baltimore for the next several years.

Last week it was announced that some key commodities at Baltimore’s public terminals had begun to rebound from the challenging 2009 year. Comparing Fiscal Year 2010 (July 2009- June 2010) with Fiscal Year 2009 (July 2008-June 2009), automobiles were up 26 percent, pulp (produces facial tissues, paper towels, and napkins) was up 13 percent, and containers were up two percent. In total, general cargo tonnage from January 2010 through August 2010 is up 11 percent compared with January 2009 through August 2009.

In March, the Port of Baltimore handled 38,053 autos at its public terminals, more vehicles in one month than at any time in its history.