Port of Virginia reports highest January volumes on record

Year-over-year cargo was up 15 percent in January with double-digit growth in rail, barge and truck sectors, according to VPA.

   According to the Virginia Port Authority, container volumes in January 2015 increased 15 percent compared to January of last year thanks to strong growth in rail, barge and truck cargo. 
   Port of Virginia handled 191,996 TEUs for the month, making it the highest-volume January on record. Year-over-year, the port increased rail containers by 22 percent, barge cargo was up 17 percent and truck volume grew 12 percent in January.
   “January delivered continued strong volumes,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “While we continue to experience challenges at the gates, cargo owners are choosing to move their cargo over Virginia because they see a sense of urgency in what we are doing and they see us beginning to invest.
   “Further,” he added, “we’re partnering to improve service reliability and we’re being transparent in reporting of our weekly metrics to help provide cargo supply-chain predictability and competitive service.”
   VPA said, “Through the first seven months of fiscal 2015, TEU volumes are up 8.4 percent; rail containers, up 3 percent; barge containers up 27 percent; truck volume up 11 percent; and ship calls up 8 percent.”
   Reinhart said the port will release its financial results for January by Friday, Feb. 20.