Peter T. Leach, Senior Editor | Aug 03, 2012 10:40AM EDT
The volume of containers handled by the Port of Baltimore declined 2.8 percent in June from the same month last year but increased 5 percent year-over-year for the first six months of 2012.
Baltimore’s terminals handled 53,781 20-foot-equivalent units in June, compared with 55,331 TEUs a year earlier, but first half volume increased to 325,825 TEUs from 310,176 TEUs in the first half of 2011.
During the six-month period, Baltimore’s public marine terminals handled a record 4.83 million tons of general cargo, surpassing the previous record of 4.69 million tons set during the first half of 2008 before the onset of recession.
The new record is also a 10 percent jump from the first six months of 2011 when the port handled 4.38 million tons of cargo.
The port’s public marine terminals handled 8.89 million tons of non-bulk general cargo last year, up 9 percent from 2010 and just short of the all-time record of 8.96 million tons set in 2008.
The majority of Baltimore’s general cargo includes containerized goods, autos, forest products, and roll-on, roll-off farm and construction equipment.
The number of automobiles handled at the port increased 27 percent in the first half year-over-year.
Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @petertleach.