Page 25 - Port of Baltimore Magazine January/February 2016

REPORT 2016
Autos
As the leading auto port in the U.S., 2016 was another record year for the Port of Baltimore. Baltimore saw 418,651 import autos cross its public docks last year, the highest amount ever. That is a big reason why Baltimore again finished the year on top in autos.
The Port of Baltimore saw increases with many
of its auto customers. Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz
and Subaru all set individual U.S. sales records in
2016, which corresponded to their totals at the Port of Baltimore. Light trucks and crossover vehicles continued to drive the market in the U.S. and accounted for 60 percent of all deliveries in 2016. A high percentage of those same vehicles crossed the docks in Baltimore.
Overall in 2016, auto sales had another banner year. U.S. light-vehicle sales, led by discounts and promotions from the automakers, strong light-truck demand and solid gains at General Motors, Nissan and Honda in December resulted in a record year. U.S. sales rose by more than 56,000 units over 2015. In total, more than 17.5 million cars and light trucks were sold in the U.S. last year.
Baltimore’s advantages as an auto port are many. Baltimore’s geographic location as the closest East Coast port to the Midwest allows cars to be shipped to inland destinations in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. The Port also offers auto manufacturers a choice of four on-dock auto processors, a large number of haul-away trucking companies and all major steamship lines. With its unique quality program, QCHAT, Baltimore guarantees each auto leaving or arriving is handled with top-notch care. With these benefits in its back pocket, it’s easy to see why Baltimore continues to have great successes in autos.
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
AUTOS
2016: 567,895 Units 2015: 574,964 Units PERCENT CHANGE: -1.23%
BILL MCALLEN
2015
2016
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