PORT OF HOUSTON SEES RECORD 2001 RESULTS

PORT OF HOUSTON SEES RECORD 2001 RESULTS    The Port of Houston Authority said it topped 1 million TEUs of container volumes for the third consecutive year, in 2001
   The port handled 1.07 million TEUs, while container tonnage grew 2.5 percent to 9.99 million tons.
   'Despite increased container volume, the rate of growth in the port's container traffic is actually slowing because we are running out of space,' said James T. Edmonds, port authority chairman. 'We simply do not have the capacity to serve everyone who wants to come to the Port of Houston.'
   Bulk volumes saw their larges increase in 22 years, 31 percent, to 2.98 million tons in 2001. Auto imports rose 40 percent to 76,496 units.
   The port authority posted record operating revenues of $107.2 million, up from $106.6 million in 2000. However, operating income fell 19.1 percent to $18.6 million, which the port authority said was due to a 29-percent drop in steel imports. Steel volumes have been impacted by heightened import restrictions, the port said.