BALTIMORE (WMAR) — The Port of Baltimore broke a 44 year-old record in 2018.
According to Maryland Ports officials, a record 43 million tons of international cargo was handled last year by the combined state-owned public and the privately-owned marine terminals at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. The value of cargo also set a new record of $59.7 billion, surpassing the previous $53.9 billion set in 2017.
The last time the Port of Baltimore set a high mark was in 1974, handling 40.9 million tons tons of international cargo.
Governor Larry Hogan believes the port's success is an example of Maryland being open for business.
Maryland Port Administration said this new benchmark moved the Port of Baltimore to a higher in national rankings: 11th among major U.S. ports in cargo handled and the $59.7 billion total cargo value ranked ninth nationally.
“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Port’s value as one of our leading economic engines and a generator of good-paying, family-supporting jobs for tens of thousands of Marylanders,” said Governor Hogan.
The 2018 figures for public and private terminals combined follow an earlier announcement that the Port’s state-owned public terminals alone handled 10.9 million tons of general cargo last year, more than ever before and the third consecutive year exceeding the 10 million-ton mark. General cargo includes
- cars and light trucks
- containers,
- roll on or roll off machinery (farm, mining and construction equipment)
- forest products such as rolled paper
- wood pulp
- bulk cargo
MPA officials also found that new individual records were established for containers, cars and imported roll on/roll off machinery. The Port of Baltimore ranks first in the nation for autos and light trucks, roll on/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, imported sugar and imported gypsum and ranks second in exported coal.
