Page 25 - Port of Baltimore Magazine Jan/Feb 2013

T he Port of Baltimore handles more imported forest products
than any other U.S. port. However, both rolled paper and
pulp — the prime forest product commodities — experienced
small downturns in 2012. The Port’s largest finished paper
importer had a 12 percent decrease due to the economic downturn
and continued emergence of e-readers. Although finished paper will
continue to be challenged with the emergence of additional digital
devices, paper is projected to have a small rebound in 2013.
Pulp is used to produce goods such as paper towels, facial and toilet
tissue, and diapers. Pulp’s future at the Port of Baltimore is bright in 2013.
There will be a new distribution center as well as additional pulp tonnage
from our existing clients in Brazil. The Port of Baltimore’s operational
efficiencies, along with its existing deep-water drafts, are necessary
to the pulp industry as ships continue to require deeper waters and
larger berths. Baltimore’s proximity to large consumer groups with the
capability to be served by rail has helped the Port see continued growth.
-50,000
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
FOREST PRODUCTS-
PAPER
Change
in Tons
2011
2012 326,987 Tons
2011 365,219 Tons
PERCENT CHANGE -10%
2012
January/February 2013 ■ The Port of Baltimore [23]
-100,000
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
FOREST PRODUCTS-
PULP
Change
in Tons
2011
2012 481,706 Tons
2011 515,433 Tons
PERCENT CHANGE -7%
2012
Forest
Products
easy access for cruise vacationers
arriving from points north, south
and west. With an ideal geographic
placement within the third-largest
U.S. consumer market and located
within one of the most affluent
regions in the nation, the future of
cruising looks promising at the Port
of Baltimore.
TONS
TONS