First half box volumes slip at Port of Philadelphia

The Port of Philadelphia saw container traffic dip 2 percent to 214,267 TEUs during the first six months of 2015 despite container loads increasing 4 percent on a tonnage basis, according to the most recent data from the regional port authority.    The Port of Philadelphia saw container traffic dip 2 percent to 214,267 TEUs during the first six months of 2015 despite container loads increasing 4 percent on a tonnage basis, according to the most recent data from the regional port authority.
   Overall, 3.1 million tons of cargo crossed the docks in Philadelphia in the first half of the year, an 8.8 percent increase over the same period in 2014.
   More specifically, breakbulk cargoes were up 28.4 percent to 845,092 tons, while automobiles – primarily Hyundai and Kia vehicles from South Korea – were up 8.8 percent to 79,160 units.
   Several individual breakbulk cargoes showed big gains during the first half, including cocoa beans (up 12 percent to 81,485 tons), fruit (up 13.5 percent to 134,921 tons), steel (up 27.6 percent to 248,148 tons) and forest products (up 54 percent to 369,951 tons).
   Liquid bulk, with 671,415 tons handled between January and June, was roughly equal to the same period last year, the port authority said.
   Philadelphia port officials expect their sixth consecutive year of double-digit cargo growth in 2015.