Page 10 - Port of Baltimore Magazine Nov/Dec 2011

[8] The Port of Baltimore ■ November/December 2011 To subscribe or renew, visitwww.marylandports.com
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BILL MCALLEN
The Maryland Governor’s Office recently announced that
2010 was a record year for coal exports and salt imports
at the Port of Baltimore. More than 13.8 million tons of
coal left Baltimore’s piers last year, one million tons more than
the previous record set in 1981. Meanwhile, the Port imported
1.8 million tons of salt in 2010, breaking the former mark of 1.4
million tons set in 1994. Statistics were compiled by the U.S.
Census and analyzed by Global Trade Atlas.
Both coal and salt are handled by the Port’s private marine
terminals: CNX and CSX terminals export coal, while salt is
imported primarily by Rukert Terminals.
“Each time a ship comes to the Port of Baltimore, it means
more than just more business, it means jobs,” said Governor
Martin O’Malley. “These record import/export figures are good
news for the Port and good news for the more than 16,000 men
and women who depend on the Port to support their families.”
China, which was the Port of Baltimore’s top trading
partner in 2010 for total exported cargo, was the top
destination for coal exports. China received 24 percent of the
coal exported from Baltimore, followed by South Korea and
the Netherlands. Coal is used as an energy generator and key
component in producing steel.
In 2010, Chile, Mexico and Egypt produced the most salt
that headed to the Port of Baltimore. Chile produced 65 percent
of the Port’s imported salt, which is used as an industrial
chemical and to treat slippery roads during the winter months.
Last year the Port of Baltimore’s public and private
terminals handled 33 million tons of foreign commerce, a 47
percent increase over 2009. The total dollar value of cargo
coming through the Port was $41.5 billion, a 37 percent jump
from 2009. The Port is ranked 11th nationally for the total
dollar value of cargo and 13th for the amount of cargo tonnage
handled out of 44 port districts in the U.S.
Out of about 360 U.S. ports, the Port of Baltimore ranks
second for exported coal.
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Impressive Cruise News
For the third consecutive year, the Port of
Baltimore has surpassed its record for most
cruise passengers in one year. The Carnival
Pride left on Oct 30 for a seven-day cruise to the
Bahamas carrying 2,295 passengers. That cruise
pushed the total number of passengers for 2011
to 212,821 on 89 cruises. The previous record was
Port Handles Record Number of Salt Imports and Coal Exports
CARGO
set in 2010, as 210,549 passengers sailed on 90
cruises out of Baltimore.
“Since beginning year-round cruises three
years ago, and since we’ve introduced our new
state-of-the-art boarding bridge, the Port has
seen a remarkable increase in cruise business,
which is good news for jobs and provides a
boost to our State’s tourism industry,” said
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
For more cruise news, see the story on
page 20.