Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority wrapped up calendar year 2011 with a 1.2 percent increase in cargo volume, surpassing the mark set in 2010 by 23,011 TEUs; the VPA completed the year having handled 1,918,029 TEUs.
"We posted growth in all core areas including container volume, in our rail, breakbulk and auto operations and at VIP (Virginia Inland Port)," said Jerry A. Bridges, the VPA executive director. "What should be taken into account is that we grew in spite of a weak economy and some larger trade issues that we had absolutely no control over that an adverse impact on our volumes.
“Posting positive numbers under those conditions tells me that 2012 is going to be different: The economy continues to inch forward, there is considerable interest in the Richmond barge service, CSX has started its on-dock rail operation, both NS and CSX have expanded their rail reach from our port and we have multiple port users that are coming on-line in the later part of this year. An important development is the fact that we have had very productive discussions with some ocean carriers that are considering a change in their East Coast port rotations in order to take advantage of our deep water.”
The year-end trade balance average for 2011 was 59 percent exports and 41 percent imports. The breakdown totals for the core areas of business is as follows:
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Export TEUs: 2011 = 1,032,136 / 2010 = 1,005,370
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Import TEUs: 2011 = 885,893 / 2010 = 889,648
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Rail Containers: 2011 = 330,330 / 2010 = 261,399
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VIP Containers: 2011 = 34,105 / 2010 = 30,414
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Breakbulk Tonnage: 2011 = 347,558 / 2010 = 253,854
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Ship Calls: 2011 = 1,828 / 2010 = 1,841
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Vehicle Units (cars): 2011 = 31,147 / 2010 = 22,948
Calendar year TEU totals by month, 2011 vs. 2010:
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December 2011 = 154,300
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December 2010 = 138,452
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November 2011 = 163,945
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November 2010 = 163,211
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October 2011 =172,776
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October 2010 = 175,518
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September 2011 = 164,050
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September 2010 = 153,006
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August 2011 = 151,980
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August 2010 = 175,122
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July 2011 = 167,076
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July 2010 = 153,944
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June 2011 = 151,448
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June 2010 = 160,701
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May 2011 = 158,538
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May 2010 = 161,535
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April 2011 = 167,157
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April 2010 = 147,119
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March 2011 = 159,753
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March 2010 = 167,262
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February 2011 = 153,646
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February 2010 = 155,049
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January 2011 = 159,265
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January 2010 = 144,097