The Port of South Louisiana has set an unprecedented cargo-volume record in 2017, surpassing 2016’s tonnage of 294.9 million short tons by 4.4%. The district’s total tonnage increase was propelled, in particular, by the handling of Chemicals/Fertilizers (6%), Coal/Lignite/Coke (123%), Crude Oil (4%), Ores/Phosphate Rock (2%), Petrochemicals (4%), and Steel Products (41%).

Total tonnage for 2017 was over 307.8 million short tons, 12.9 million short tons more than in 2016. Both vessel calls and barge movements in the Port district increased in 2017: 4,589 and 65,490, respectively. Exports were over 71.7 million short tons, while domestic trade exceeded 160.1 million short tons, representing increases of 6% and 4.2% respectively compared to 2016 trade. The growth of 4.1 million short tons in export trade was aided primarily by commodities such as Grain (31%), Chemicals/Fertilizers (85%), Coal/Lignite/Coke (84%) and Crude Oil (509%). Imports also increased (by 2%) due to the handling of products like Crude Oil (1%), Ores/Phosphate Rock (2%), and Petrochemicals (5%), and Steel Products (108%).

“I was very pleased to see the Port of South Louisiana increase its tonnage, vessel and barge numbers by such an impressive amount,” said Paul Aucoin, Executive Director of the Port of South Louisiana. “We look forward to another good year.”

The Port of South Louisiana consistently ranks above the ports of Houston, New York/New Jersey, New Orleans, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Long Beach, Greater Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, and Mobile, making it the largest tonnage port in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, according to a new report by international shipping magazine Fairplay, the Port of South Louisiana was ranked 16th in the world. Of the nearly 5,000 ports, the Port of South Louisiana is the only U.S. port that ranks in the top 20 ports in the world!