LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Port of Little Rock experienced solid activity across the docks for the month of March, even though many Port customers have seen lengthy delays in barge arrival due to high water on the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. At the end of March, there were still an estimated 30 barges destined for Little Rock being held at the Port of Rosedale awaiting delivery by JanTran. Even with these delays, Logistic Services, Inc. (LSI), the port’s stevedore, was able to work 27 barges, with over 41,000 net tons of various commodities.
Of the 27 barges worked, 19 contained bulk commodities and eight contained break-bulk. Commodities included: aluminum ingots and sows, DAP, frac sand, nepheline syenite, rock, sand, scrap, steel coils, sulfate, urea, wetcake and wire rod coils.
Sixteen of the barges, 24,000 net tons of cargo, were handled at the main river dock and 11 barges, 17,000 net tons of cargo, were handled at slackwater harbor dock. Year to date, bulk commodities have accounted for 69% of the cargo.
Through the first three months of the year, LSI has worked 80 barges with 123,000 net tons of cargo. Although the total number of barges is 18 below the number handled through the same period in 2017, LSI expects to ultimately work more barges during this calendar year.
For March 2018, the Arkansas River handled 951,934 total tons of cargo.
“The administration continues to implement, or threaten to implement, certain tariffs with our trading partners. It is important to understand that the Port of Little Rock imports steel and aluminum every month and excessive tariffs, will impact our operations,” said Bryan Day, Executive Director of the Little Rock Port Authority. “Tariffs and negative trade rhetoric could impact our ability to compete on a global stage.” continued Day.
