Boston container volume up 8.6% in 2003, led by exports

Boston container volume up 8.6% in 2003, led by exports    The Conley container terminal of the port of Boston, Mass., handled 158,020 TEUs in 2003, an increase of 8.6 percent in 2003. The Massachusetts Port Authority said that the box traffic was 12,459 TEUs higher than in 2002.
   Export growth from Boston was particularly strong in 2003, accounting for an 18.3 percent increase in export moves, to 45,987 TEUs, and an 18.6 percent increase in export tonnage over 2002.
   Imports also grew, increasing 6.4 percent to 74,643 TEUs in 2003, from 70,128 TEUs in 2002.
   “Direct trade with Asia as well as northern Europe and the Mediterranean has made all the difference,” said Mike Leone, Massport’s port director. “With a direct ship calling Boston from China every week, as well as weekly ships direct from Europe and from the Mediterranean, port activity is showing steady growth,” he added.