Dry-bulk shipments grow 23% at Redwood City port

Sand and aggregates are leading commodities at N. California port.    Total tonnage for all commodities crossing over the Port of Redwood City’s docks during the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, ended Sept. 30, was 451,031 metric tons, a 23 percent increase over the prior year.
   Half the volume was from imported sand, with the remaining cargo split between imported aggregates (32 percent), exported shredded scrap metal (10 percent), imported bauxite (6 percent) and domestic sand (2 percent).
   Sand and aggregates continue to be at a high demand for the local ready-mix concrete suppliers who are providing materials for many construction projects in the region and Silicon Valley, according to the port authority.
   The received 29 vessels (15 ships, 14 barges) during the quarter, compared to 18 vessels (13 ships, 5 barges) during the prior year’s first quarter.  
   Last fiscal year, the port had a 19 percent increase in cargo volume to 1.7 million metric tons. Tonnage was the highest since 2006.