Port Newark Reports Record-Setting Cargo Volumes For 2015

Did you know that the Port of New York and New Jersey imported 20,000 metric tons of coffee in 2014… the most in the United States?

More goods than ever are coming through Port Newark, one of the busiest on the East Coast.

According to trade stats released for June 2015, confirmed cargo volumes at the Port of New York and New Jersey set a record pace during the first six months of 2015.

Volumes moved were 13.4 percent higher than the same period in 2014, which established the previous record, port officials stated.

Between January and June of this year, the port handled 3,093,789 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), compared to 2,727,554 TEUs handled during the same period in 2014.

According to port officials, cargo handled by ExpressRail, the Port Authority’s ship-to-rail system serving New York and New Jersey marine terminals, is also on track for a record year. During the first six months of 2015, ExpressRail handled 257,103 containers, up 15.1 percent from the previous record year of 2014, when 223,374 containers were handled. The agency’ investment of more than $600 million in ExpressRail - and its plans to build a new ExpressRail facility in Greenville Yard in Jersey City - has been critical to addressing the need for on-dock rail to improve port efficiency, competitiveness and reduce emissions.

Port road, rail, and security projects are now funded by port-wide Cargo Facility Charges.

“We’re reaping the benefits of a strong regional economy and labor uncertainty on the West Coast,” said Port Commerce Director Richard Larrabee. “Our challenge now is to find ways to more efficiently handle the record volumes we have seen all year, and we’ve been working collaboratively will all port stakeholders to meet this goal. At the same time, we are continuing our aggressive environmental initiatives to ensure that more cargo does not result in more pollution for those who work or live around our port facilities.”

In addition to cargo containers, the port also reported a 31 percent increase in vehicles handled by auto processors serving the port - from 172,375 units handled in 2014 to 226,053 units handled in 2015. The increase is due in part to the Auto Incentive Program launched in 2014 to provide financial incentives to auto manufacturers who bring new or increased vehicle business to the port.

To continue the port’s ability to handle increasing cargo volumes, the Port Authority formed the Council on Port Performance to plan and implement 23 recommendations aimed at reducing truck congestion and air emissions at the Port of New York and New Jersey, improve customer service for truckers and other port stakeholders, and enhance the flow of goods to and from the marketplace.

• See related article: EPA And Port Authority Plan To Reduce Truck Idling Pollution At Port Newark

Photo courtesy of the Port of New York and New Jersey