The Port closed a number of key transactions last year and reported positive gains in every cargo category. By the numbers, the 575 ships calling Portland last year represented a 15 percent increase, with total tonnage up by 28 percent compared to 2009.
“Business has improved substantially, and we expect this wave of recovery to continue through the fiscal year,” said Sam Ruda, director marine and industrial development. “Considering near term initiatives and strengthening cargo volumes, there are reasons for optimism.”
The outlook for imports and exports improved with completion of the Columbia River channel improvement project in November 2010. With a 43-foot navigation channel, each ship can accommodate an additional 6,000 to 10,000 tons of the heavier bulk and containerized cargoes.
Exports of mineral bulks, which include potash, used for fertilizer, and soda ash, used in the manufacture of glass, were up 68 percent with 5.3 million tons. Bulk grain, including wheat, corn and soybeans, posted an increase of 11 percent with 4.7 million tons.
Containers were up 4 percent last year, as the Port welcomed new Terminal 6 customers Westwood Shipping Lines, which provides service to Japan, and Gearbulk, which has imported thousands of new 53’ containers for use in domestic intermodal transportation. Volumes with existing carriers, Hanjin/Cosco and Hapag Lloyd, remained strong as well.
Last May, Portland closed on a 25-year lease of its container terminal to a growing global marine terminal operator, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI). With the transition occurring this February, the move will continue to position Portland as an international cargo gateway. ICTSI has established an Oregon based subsidiary, ICTSI Oregon, Inc., and has hired approximately 20 staff to support terminal operations.
Breakbulk imports, including steel rail, steel slab and oversized project cargo, posted the largest gains, up 146 percent. Imports of raw steel supporting Evraz Oregon Steel were up sharply during the year.
Autos, including imports of Honda, Hyundai and Toyota vehicles, posted a 10 percent gain with 264,871 finished vehicles moving over the docks.
As a gateway to international trade and an economic engine for the region, improved performance by the Port bodes well for the local economy. The Port’s marine-related activities support an estimated 12,458 jobs, $921 million in total income and $776 million in business revenues.
On the landside, a number of infrastructure investments including construction of new rail and road improvements were initiated in order to improve freight mobility in and around the marine terminals. A container crane retrofit, a new pipeline rack system for liquid bulks, and the repower of the Dredge “Oregon” to increase efficiency and lower emissions are examples of maximizing the productive use of existing equipment and facilities. The Port also finalized designs for storm water enhancements at Terminals 4 and 6 that will be implemented during 2011.
At the Port’s Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park, FedEx Ground celebrated the grand opening of a new 441,000-square-foot regional freight distribution hub. Now fully operational, the $129 million state-of-the-art package sortation hub employs 750, with plans to grow that number to 950.
