“This latest record achieved by the Port of Baltimore further proves that one of Maryland’s main economic engines has fully bounced back from one of the most challenging economic periods in our country’s history,” said Governor O’Malley. “The more cargo that comes across the port’s docks, the more good news that is for the thousands of men and women who work there and depend on it to support their families.”
The Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals handled 8.89 million tons of general cargo last year, which was up nine percent from 2010 and just short of the all-time record of 8.96 million tons set in 2008. General cargo is defined as non-bulk cargos. At the Port of Baltimore, the majority of general cargo includes containerized goods, autos, forest products, and roll on/roll off (farm and construction) equipment.
Among the key commodities at the Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals during the first half of 2012, roll on/roll off (farm and construction) equipment was up 36 percent, the number of automobiles handled at the Port of Baltimore was up 27 percent, and containers were up seven percent.
In 2011 the Port of Baltimore saw a 15 percent increase in cargo from 2010 which marked the greatest increase of growth by any major U.S. port. The Port’s public and private marine terminals saw 37.8 million tons of cargo cross their docks in 2011, up from 32.8 million tons in 2010. The total dollar value amount of that cargo was more than $51.4 billion, the Port’s highest dollar value ever and a 24 percent jump from 2010. The port also set seven other cargo records in 2011.
