VPA’s box volume grows 7.2% in May

   The Port of Virginia is off to a red-hot start to 2013, posting its best TEU volume growth through five months than any time in its history.
   In May, the port handled 191,368 TEUs, an increase of 12,784 units, or 7.2 percent, compared to May a year ago. For January-May, volumes are 6.3 percent ahead of the same period in 2012 at 878,412 TEUs (up 52,115), the Virginia Port Authority reported earlier this month.
   May’s total figure was the fourth-best in port history.
   In May, export TEUs grew 5.4 percent to 103,217 and import TEUs rose 9.3 percent to 88,150.
   The port set a new record for ocean containers moved in and out by rail, as well as the percent of boxes moving by rail (35.3 percent) instead of truck. There were 39,152 intermodal moves, exceeding the previous record of 37,478 rail boxes in November. 
   After a slow rebound after the recession, the Port of Virginia has rapidly regained business the past two years and is now one of the fastest growing ports on the East Coast. – Eric Kulisch