The Maryland Port Administration has announced that 2013 was a record year for key targeted commodities at the Port of Baltimor's public marine terminals. Autos, containers, and wood pulp (used to produce napkins, tissues, paper towels) all had record years, while the Port again reached top national status in handling other commodities. In total, the amount of general cargo at the Port's public marine terminals reached 9.6 million tons, matching last year's record. Combining the private marine terminals, the Port saw 30.3 million tons of international cargo cross its docks last year which was valued at approximately $52.6 billion.
"The Port of Baltimore continues to prove that it is one of the most productive seaports in the U.S.,"said Governor Martin O'Malley. "The Port has successfully withstood a challenging economy and has outperformed many other major U.S. ports thanks to shrewd infrastructure investments, unique job-creating public-private partnerships, and long-term contracts with major international shipping companies. With a newly operational 50-foot deep container berth and four supersized cranes, the future of the Port of Baltimore has never looked brighter for the more than 14,600 men and women who work at the Port to support their families."
Records Established at the Port of Baltimore in 2013
• Autos (public and private terminals):
• 749,100 cars (Highest among all U.S. ports and up 16 percent from 2012)
• The previous record was 652,000 cars in 2012.
• Containers (public terminals):
• 6.4 million tons (up one percent from 2012)
• The previous record was 6.3 million tons in 2012.
• Wood pulp (used to produce napkins, tissues, paper towels):
• 591,570 tons up 23 percent from 2012).
• The previous record was 515,433 tons in 2011.