Ports of Indiana’s cargo rises 12% in 2006

Ports of Indiana’s cargo rises 12% in 2006 The Ports of Indiana’s three ports on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River handled a combined 8.6 million tons of cargo in 2006, up 12 percent over 2005.
   The value of the cargo was a record $1.89 billion, driven by a 45 percent increase in steel shipments to $900 million.
   The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon handled more than 4 million tons in 2006, its highest volume since 1998 and a 6 percent improvement over 2005. There were large increases in cement (up 31 percent), steel (up 30 percent), minerals (up 11 percent), coal (up 7 percent) and grain (up 4 percent).
   The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor reported 2.7 million tons for the year, up 19 percent compared to 2005. The main shipping increases came from asphalt oil (up 335 percent), calcium chloride (up 73 percent), coke (up 47 percent), grain (up 22 percent) and fertilizer (up 15 percent), as well as new sugar shipments.
   The Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville shipped an all-time high 1.9 million tons in 2006 to finish 14 percent ahead of its previous year. There were major increases in fertilizer (up 55 percent), steel (up 28 percent), salt (up 25 percent) and grain (up 8 percent).
   “Steel shipments were up this year largely because the strong U.S. demand for steel was far greater than the domestic supply,” said Steve Mosher, port director at the Burns Harbor facility. “It also helped that Great Lakes shipping rates were very reasonable and international steel prices remained competitive.”