Little Rock tonnage up, tariffs a worry

Port Authority warns, “Negative trade rhetoric will impact our ability to compete on a global stage.”
   Sixty barges, with more than 91,500 net tons of cargo, were handled at the Port of Little Rock in April. This tonnage represents the highest monthly barge count since April 2015, according to the Little Rock Port Authority.
  Thirty-one barges, with 47,000 tons, were worked at the river dock, and 29 barges, with more than 44,000 tons, were worked at the slackwater harbor dock, the port reported.  
   Logistic Services Inc., the port’s stevedore, handled a number of different commodities, including aluminum ingots, sows and tees; DAP; lightweight aggregate; nepheline syenite; potash, rock and sand; scrap; steel coils; sulfate; triple; urea; wetcake; and wire rod coils. The port said breakbulk cargoes made up 58 percent of the cargo handled; however, bulk commodities have continued to grow and have accounted for well over half of this year’s tonnage. 
   “The administration continues to implement — or threaten to implement — certain tariffs with our trading partners. It is important to understand that the Port of Little Rock imports steel and aluminum every month and excessive tariffs will impact our operations,” said Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority. “Tariffs and negative trade rhetoric will impact our ability to compete on a global stage.” 
   Through the first four months of the year, the port worked 140 barges with more than 214,000 tons of cargo. This is seven barges and 14,000 tons ahead of the same period last year, according to the April report. 
   Through the first three months of the year, LSI worked 80 barges with 123,000 net tons of cargo. Although the total number of barges is 18 below the number handled through the same period in 2017, LSI expects to ultimately work more barges during this calendar year, the port said.  
   LSI expects to work more than 50 barges at the Port of Little Rock in May. Inbound shipments of domestic steel coils remain strong, while outbound barge loadings, led by aggregates, are well ahead of last year’s pace.  
   Total tonnage on the Arkansas River for the month of April was 1,188,147 tons, the port said.
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