NEW-YORK-NEW JERSEY CONTAINER VOLUME INCREASED 13% IN 2002

NEW-YORK-NEW JERSEY CONTAINER VOLUME INCREASED 13% IN 2002    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Thursday that “a substantial increase in Asian trade” had helped container volume grow 13 percent to 3.75 million TEUs in 2002.
   The increase “reinforces our belief that more shippers are migrating to the use of all-water services to transport their products from Asia to the Northeastern and Midwestern parts of this country,” said Richard M. Larrabee, director of port commerce.
   Total general cargo through the port in 2002 increased 8.2 percent 21.63 million tons. General cargo imports rose 12.4 percent to 15.59 million tons. Imports from Far East Asia increased 23.6 percent, and imports from Latin America rose 23.3 percent.
   General cargo exports declined 1.3 percent to 6.05 million tons.
   Total bulk cargo declined 9.5 percent to 48.48 million tons.
   Iron and steel exports rose 152 percent, due to increased shipments of scrap steel. Petroleum products imports, the port authority's largest import commodity, decreased 11.4 percent.
   The port handled 588,815 automobiles in 2002, a 7.2-percent increase over 2001. Vehicle imports increased 16 percent to 553,434, while exports were off 12 percent to 35,381 vehicles.
   The port authority said China is its largest trading partner, accounting for 16 percent of the port’s general cargo volume. Trade with China increased 23 percent in 2002. Following China as leading trade partners were Italy, Germany, India and the United Kingdom.