A 31 percent year-over-year increase in container volumes at the Port of New Orleans in 2010 has been attributed to a stronger export market and increased cargos of steel.
Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange announced January 27th that in 2010 the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal handled 426,091 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU's), compared to the 325,857 TEU's the port handled in 2009.
Container volumes were also up at Port of Portland in 2010, which announced Friday a 4 percent year-over-year increase, while breakbulk imports, including steel rail, steel slab and oversized project cargo, surged 146 percent over 2009. Total cargo's reached 13.1 million nt last year, making 2010 the third-best year ever at the port for marine cargo.