In October, the port handled 206,597 TEUs, a jump of 17.8 percent when compared with the same month last year. Moreover, that total surpasses the mark of 205,137 TEUs that was just set in July.
“We knew we’d had a busy October, but to surpass that mark set in July is impressive,” said Rodney W. Oliver, interim executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The driver behind those numbers is a lot of discretionary, peak-season cargo coming in and being positioned for the coming retail season. We’re grateful for the confidence that our customers and rail partners have in our ability to handle the growing volumes.”
As of October, on a calendar-year basis, the port’s rail volume is 14.7 percent ahead of the same period in 2012. The port has experienced double-digit rail growth, year-over-year, in 11 of the last 12 months.
The percentage of cargo moved by rail reached an all-time high of 35.8 percent in September, Oliver said. This marks the fifth month in 2013 in which rail cargo, as percent of total cargo, has exceeded 35 percent.
Import TEUs tallied 98,968 and exports were 107,630 in October, increases of 24.9 percent 12 percent, respectively. For the calendar year, imports are up 9.2 percent and exports are 5.9 percent.
Also in October the Virginia Inland Port (VIP) posted its best month in more than six years. Container volume for VIP was at 3,661 containers; volume is up 9.2 percent compared with the same month last year.