New York reports record container volume

New York reports record container volume The Port of New York and New Jersey handled a record 1.8 million TEUS of containerized cargo in the first six months of the year, a 10.1 percent increase over the same period last year.
   Growth was fueled by increased Asian traffic, which accounted for 48 percent of the port’s total trade and 870,000 TEUs in the first half.
   Port Commerce Director Richard M. Larrabee attributed the container growth to increasing demand for all-water shipment from Asia.
   With cargo volumes projected to increase in coming years the port and New Jersey are working on “strategies to convert vacant brownfield sites near the port into critical warehousing and distribution facilities,” said New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
   The port handled 1.80 million loaded TEUs for the first six months of 2006, compared to 1.65 million TEUs for the same period in 2005. Imports for the period were up 11.7 percent to 1.29 million TEUs from 1.16 million TEUs in 2005. Exports rose 6.5 percent to 512,484 TEUs from 490,145 TEUs.