Port of New York and New Jersey cargo rises 10% in 2004

Port of New York and New Jersey cargo rises 10% in 2004 The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said its bi-state port handled 4.48 million TEUs in 2004 up 10.1 percent over 4.07 million TEUs in 2003.
   The value of all cargo handled by the port in 2004 was a record-setting $114.54 billion up 14.1 percent over the $100.36 billion total cargo value in 2003. The port moved 3.15 million loaded containers in 2004, a 11.7 percent increase over the 2.82 million loaded TEUs in 2003. Imports totaled 2.22 million TEUs and exports 925,786 TEUs.
   Bulk cargo increased 0.4 percent to 55.17 million metric tons, compared to 54.93 million metric tons in 2003. Bulk imports declined 0.4 percent from 51.95 million metric tons in 2003 to 51.77 million metric tons in 2004.    Bulk exports increased 14.4 percent from 2.97 million metric tons to 3.40 million metric tons in 2004.
   The port's top three import cargo commodities on a tonnage basis were beverages, vehicles and furniture. The top three export cargo commodities were wood pulp, plastic and machinery.
   The port's on-dock rail activity grew 22 percent. Rail movements totaling 283,529, compared to 232,867 in 2003.
   China continued to be the port's largest trading partner, accounting for 19.9 percent of the port's activity. Trade with China grew 30.5 percent in 2004. Asia continued to be the port's largest origin-and-destination market for containerized cargo, with a 43.2 percent share.
   After China, the port's top trading partners in 2004 were Italy, Germany, Brazil and India.
   The port recorded 5,288 ship calls in 2004, compared to 5,280 calls in 2003.
   Five new all-water services from Asia to the port of New York and New Jersey were added in 2004, bringing the total all-water services to 24 for trade lanes in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Of those 24 services, 17 travel via the Panama Canal and the remaining seven travel via the Suez Canal.
   The port authority and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority have identified more than 20 sites in Union, Middlesex, Essex, Bergen and Hudson counties that are possible locations for warehouse and distribution centers. Construction will begin this spring on a distribution facility in Elizabeth, near New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 13A.
   A status report on dredging released by the port authority said ongoing operations to deepen the port's channels to 50 feet will be completed by 2014.
   The port has embarked on a $72 million project to reactivate the eight-mile Staten Island Railroad to restore freight rail service to New York Container Terminal, formerly the Howland Hook Marine Terminal, noted Gov. George E. Pataki of New York.