The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County, Ohio Port Authority reported on Friday that total cargo tonnage increased by 31 percent during 2011. This growth can be attributed to an increase in the amount of steel, iron ore and oversized cargo handled last year by the ports.
The increase in steel and oversized cargo helped the general cargo volume rise 16 percent, while iron ore intake helped the bulk cargo volume surge 33 percent. In total, the port handled 3.4 million tons--the most volume handled since 2008. Port of Cleveland CEO, Will Friedman added, "Trade through our port showed strong growth in 2011, which is another indicator of an economic rebound underway in our region."