Imports drive throughput in the port of Virginia
The port of Virginia (USA) handled cargo volumes of almost 95,000 teu in August. The overall increase of 5% when compared with the same period last year is mainly due to a rise in the number of loaded import containers moving through the port and a jump in the number of empty containers that were exported to a foreign destination.
In August 2019, loaded import containers were up 54,000 teu, or more than 6%; export loads, were down 20,000 units, or 3%. Export empties were up 61,000 units, or 19%, with no import empties.
John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, commented that “we are seeing some of the negative effects of the increasing trade tariffs in the agriculture sector, grain and lumber exports in particular."
Total barge volume at the port was up nearly 6%; Richmond Marine Terminal volume was up 16.5%; and truck volume was up 5.5%. (fd)