Autumn results bode well for the Port of Virginia
The Port of Virginia has reported that its terminals handled more than 241,000 teu in September – an increase of more than 9% in comparison to September 2018. These figures put the port’s cargo volume growth for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2020 at more than 4%.
However, September’s volumes were driven by the repositioning of empty containers: exported empties increased by nearly 7,800 units, or more than 17%. Imported empties were up 630 units, a rise of more than 34%. Export loads increased by nearly 6,000 units, or 9%, and loaded imports were up 5,600 units, an improvement of 5%.
John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority: “In September, China granted an exemption from additional tariffs on some American soybean imports, pork and other agricultural products and this works in our favour, as we have seen some rebound in those cargoes." (fd)