NEWS |
139-00: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE , October 17, 2000
"By every indicator, the gains are impressive," Port Authority Chairman Lewis M. Eisenberg said, following the agency's release of cargo statistics for the first half of 2000. "They demonstrate that our forecasts for the port are, if anything, conservative, and underscore the importance of moving ahead aggressively with a regional port modernization and capacity expansion program."
Port Authority Executive Director Robert E. Boyle said, "Ocean cargo traffic in the Port of New York and New Jersey continued to surge in the first half of 2000, with gains in both absolute numbers and market share. These numbers show that the Port of New York and New Jersey is continuing to increase its dominance among East Coast ports."
In releasing the report, Port Authority Director of Port Commerce Richard M. Larrabee cited the following results:
· the port handled more than 1 million containers in the first six months, an increase of 7 percent over the same period in 1999;
· New York/New Jersey's share of the North Atlantic market continued its rise, growing a full point from 57 percent in the first half of 1999, to 58 percent this year;
· general cargo tonnage also rose sharply in the first half - about 8.9 million metric tons, up 10 percent over the first half of 1999; and
· the port's largest volume trading partners - Europe, Latin America, the Far East and the Mediterranean - displayed strong volume and market share growth during the first half of 2000.
Mr. Larrabee said, "This impressive growth shows that the maritime industry worldwide has recognized the advantages of shipping through this port - lower costs, a skilled, highly productive labor force, cutting-edge marine terminals, and immediate access to the largest consumer market in North America - some 80 million people.
"The impacts of these statistics go beyond the actual numbers," Mr. Larrabee said. "The Port contributes $20 billion annually to the regional economy, and this type of growth means more jobs and more economic activity in the region. In fact, because of the level of activity we're seeing in the port, nearly 500 new International Longshoremen were hired this year - the first new hires in decades - to accommodate the demand we are seeing."
General cargo imports increased by 12 percent to 6.5 million metric tons, while exports rose by 4.5 percent to 2.3 million metric tons. Containerized cargo imports rose by 12.9 percent to 722,000 containers (as measured in TEU's or 20-foot-equivalent units), while containerized exports fell by 4.5 percent to about 320,000 containers. Total bulk cargo volume increased by 4.6 percent compared to the first half of 1999. Bulk import volume increased 5.4 percent to 21.6 million tons. Bulk export volume declined by 17 percent to 634,000 tons.
The port continued to be the nation's leading automobile port in first half of 2000, handling nearly 277,000 units - an increase of 21.8 percent over the same period last year. U.S. market share grew to 15.4 percent.
The top five countries for general cargo imports were Italy, China, Germany, Japan and France. The top import commodities were beverages, vehicles, machinery, plastics and preserved food.
The top five countries for general cargo exports from New York/New Jersey were China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Thailand and Germany. Top export commodities were woodpulp, plastics, wood, machinery and paper/paperboard.