Record-setting shipments at Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon

   The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon announced Wednesday that it shipped more cargo during the fourth quarter than any other quarter in the port’s 37-year history. Between October and December of last year, the port shipped 1.59 million tons — more than the total annual volume in each of the port’s first five years of operations.
   “Because of the extremely strong fourth quarter, 2013 is one for the record books,” said Phil Wilzbacher, the port’s director, in a statement. “This was the first time our shipments exceeded 500,000 tons for two consecutive months, let alone three consecutive months. Coal, fertilizer and a record grain harvest were the primary reasons for the surge in shipments at the end of 2013.”
   The port handled more than 4.15 million tons during 2013, up 21 percent from 2012. Coal, grain and soy products made up approximately 75 percent of the port’s 2013 shipments. “Coal was up 47 percent over 2012, while fertilizer shipments rose 42 percent, and grain increased 38 percent from last year,” the port said in a statement. The port credits these increases for the record-setting shipping volume.