Port of Virginia reports 2.4 percent Q1 growth

   The Port of Virginia reported Monday a 2.4 percent year-over-year increase in first-quarter container volumes to 708,297 TEUs, despite a 4.8 percent drop in March.
   The port’s loaded imports grew by 1.4 percent in the first quarter to 322,153 TEUs and its empty exports jumped by 23.7 percent to 136,287 TEUs. First-quarter loaded exports decreased by 5.1 percent to 243,872 and empty imports fell by 9.5 percent to 5,985.
   The Port of Virginia processed 240,035 TEUs in March, which was its second-busiest March behind 2018. The decrease was due to “five blank sailings that were a result of the Chinese New Year and four vessels that arrived late,” the port said in a statement.
   Its loaded exports fell by 9.5 percent to 89,282 TEUs and loaded imports decreased by 5.4 percent 107,040 TEUs. Empty exports grew 9.3 percent to 41,712 and empty imports dropped 13.3 percent to 2,002.
   In the port’s fiscal year, which started in July, it has handled 2,192,700 TEUs, a 2.1 percent increase over its previous fiscal year.