One of the world’s leading forest products manufacturers, Brazil-based Suzano Pulp and Paper, has begun shipping wood pulp through the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s state-owned public marine terminals, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) announced. The contract with Suzano runs six months, and during that time, the company is expected to bring between 72,500 and 120,000 tons of pulp through the Port. Pulp is used to produce paper products such as bathroom tissue, paper towels and napkins.
“The Port of Baltimore continues to be an excellent example of Maryland being open for business,” said James J. White, executive director of the MDOT MPA. “Increasing business through our Port helps to generate good-paying, family-supporting jobs and strong economic benefits for our state.”
Recently, the MDOT MPA announced that the Port’s state-owned terminals handled a record 10.9 million tons of general cargo in 2018. Of that total, 604,000 tons were paper and pulp, representing nearly 50 percent of that commodity’s U.S. market share.
Additional general cargo records were set in 2018 for containers, imported roll on/roll off machinery (farm and construction equipment), and cars and light trucks.
Business at the Port of Baltimore generates more than 15,300 direct jobs, with more than 139,000 jobs in Maryland linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for $3.3 billion in personal income and nearly $400 million in state and local tax revenues. Among the nation’s ports, the Port of Baltimore ranks first for autos and light trucks, roll on/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, and imported sugar. The Port ranks second in exported coal. Overall, Baltimore ranks ninth among all ports for the total dollar value of cargo and 12th in foreign cargo tonnage.
