Port of Redwood City reports drop in tonnage

The Californian port saw a pause in the growth of building materials flowing across its docks during the past fiscal year.    The Port of Redwood City experienced a 5 percent year-over-year tonnage decline in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
   However, total tonnage was still the third highest at the port over the past 10 years at 1.64 million metric tons, reflecting the continuing strong demand for construction materials in Silicon Valley and the Oakland area, particularly the high quality sand and aggregates shipped to the port from British Columbia.
   For the fiscal year, 45.5 percent of the port’s volumes consisted of imported sand, followed by imported aggregates at 29.4 percent and exported scrap metal at 14.2 percent. Bauxite ore, gypsum rock, domestic sand and ground iron slag were also transported though the port during the fiscal year.
   “The high quality for construction of the sand and gravel aggregates from British Columbia combined with the dwindling supply of these materials in Northern California because quarries are unable to expand, triggered a strong demand from which the Port benefitted,” Port of Redwood City Executive Director Michael J. Giari said in a statement.
   The sand and aggregates, which are used in the production of concrete, arrive at the port by ships with self-unloading conveyor systems owned by Canadian Steamship Lines. Eagle Rock Aggregates is the supplier of these high quality construction aggregates. The company operates the Orca Quarry, located on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, BC, which very high quality sand and gravel with significant long-term reserves.