The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority reported that with 2,519,967 metric tons (mt) of cargo handled during the first six months of 2013 compared to the 2,217,803 mt of cargo handled during the same period of 2012, the port experienced a 13.6 percent gain in cargos handled. If current cargo trends continue throughout the remainder of the year, 2013 will be the fourth straight year of double-digit cargo growth at the Port of Philadelphia.
During the first half of 2013, steel handled by the port totaled 116,249 mt, up 30 percent to 89,292 mt. The steel cargos arriving at the port are primarily destined for the automobile and construction industries.
With 1,184,147 mt of containerized cargos handled January to June 2013 compared to the 1,002,911 mt handled during that same period of 2012, containerized cargo tonnage was up a healthy 18 percent. Counted as TEUs, 168,820 TEUs of containers were handled year-to-date 2013 compared to the 135,656 TEUs handled during the same period of 2012, resulting in a 24 percent gain.
