Brownsville port volumes up 16% in 2011

   The Port of Brownsville handled 6.1 million tons of cargo in 2011, 16 percent more than the prior year.
   The Texas port said in a statement that while it is primarily thought of as a steel port, it has “made a conscious push to diversify the types of cargoes handled.”
   “We are among the top three ports in the country in terms of steel imports and exports, however, over the course of the last few years we have experienced a steady increase in our liquid commodities, up to the point to where the tonnage for liquid commodities actually surpasses bulk commodities,” said Eduardo Campirano, port director and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Our main focus going forward is to not only continue to diversify the types of cargoes we handle, but aggressively pursue companies to locate at the Port of Brownsville and utilize our services, while shipping out of the port.”
   The port recently handled a shipment of wind towers and blades bound for a wind farm being built in Willacy County, Texas.
   The Port of Brownsville board has also recently approved an option to lease 500 acres to Gulf Coast LNG Export, which wants to build a facility to export liquified natural gas through the port.