“It’s another milestone that comes on the heels of four record years in a row,” LaGrange said. “We anticipate continued growth in our container market, along with a robust breakbulk and project cargo market, as we recently set 14-year highs in tonnage moved over Port docks.”

The most recent 12-month container data through September found the Port handled 537,285 TEUs, a 13.6 percent increase over the same period one-year ago. Those figures reflect a more than doubling of container volume in the Central American trade lane through September, buoyed by banana imports and paper and chemical exports.

In addition, the latest breakbulk cargo data through May 2015, illustrates a more than 15 percent growth in breakbulk tons, led by an 18.7 percent increase in imported steel.

“While we expect some softening in the imported steel market this fall, we anticipate the investment boom in the chemical and petrochemical industry on the Lower Mississippi River will spur continued growth for the future,” LaGrange said.

Chemical and petrochemical companies have announced more than $81 billion in investments in new and expansion projects in Louisiana, leading experts to predict chemical exports could triple as these projects are completed and come online in the coming years.

The department is also responsible for the “Keep it Clean” campaign aimed at reducing waste on our property and in our waterways. The campaign was recognized by the American Association of Port Authorities recently with a national Environmental Improvement Award.

“As we continue to grow, we want to do so in an environmentally friendly way and serve as a leader in green initiatives within our jurisdiction and beyond,” LaGrange said.

While highlighting the year’s accomplishments and looking to the future, LaGrange said the maritime industry must work together to educate the public on the economic impacts and community benefits of international trade in Louisiana.

“Most people in this room are intimately involved with some form of trade or transportation business,” LaGrange said. “However, many of our friends and neighbors have no idea of the broad impact of our industry. This is not a unique problem to New Orleans.”

Industrywide, ports are making an effort to communicate the importance of international trade and the Port of New Orleans is leading its own effort with radio and
television advertising and an aggressive community outreach effort.

“Thanks to our Board of Commissioners, we have invested in recent years to educate the community about what the Port means to them, our State and this Nation,” LaGrange said. “We’ve made great strides and will continue to reach out to academia, business associations, policy makers, elected officials and neighborhood associations.”

In the next year, the Port will update its economic impact report and will soon embark on an ambitious new master plan to determine the best investments and facilities as new cargo trends impact our industry.

“We must be our own cheerleaders to ensure our industry receives the respect it eserves locally, in the State Capitol and in Washington D.C.,” LaGrange said.

Photo: Gary LaGrange, President CEO of the Port of New Orleans, speaks to a sold-out crowd at
the 29th Annual State of the Port Address hosted by International Freight
Forwarders & Custom Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO).