PORT SETS RECORD BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS

The Port of Baltimore had a record year in 2012, including: general cargo from the port’s public marine terminals (9.59 million tons—up eight percent from 2011); autos (652,000 cars – most in the U.S. and up 18 percent from 2011); farm and construction machinery ( 1.09 million tons—most in the U.S. and up 16 percent from 2011); containers (6.29 million tons—up seven percent); and coal (19.6 million tons of exported coal—up two percent from 2011). The Port’s public and private marine terminals saw 36.8 million tons of cargo cross their docks in 2012. The total dollar value amount of that cargo was more than $54 billion, the Port’s highest dollar value ever.

The Port of Baltimore is ranked as the top port among 360 U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported forest products, imported sugar, imported aluminum and imported gypsum. Baltimore ranks second in the U.S. for exported coal and imported iron ore. Overall, Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 11th for cargo tonnage. Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 14,630 direct jobs, while about 108,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to port activities. The Port is responsible for $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local taxes.