Port of Virginia container volume up 8.9% to 134,638 TEU in January 2019
The Port of Virginia® continues to move near-peak season cargo volumes and is doing so well under the industry standard turn time of 60 minutes for motor carries. The port’s container volume for January was 240,111 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), or 134,638 containers, up 8.9 percent compared to prior year. Fiscal 2019 to date, total TEU volume is up 2.8 percent or 47,745 TEUs (18,365 containers), the company said in its release.
In January, the average traditional turn times at both terminals at VIG and Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) were at 41.8 and 52.6 minutes, respectively. Average expanded turn times for VIG and NIT were 50.7 and 59.5, respectively.
As the three-year, $320 million expansion project at VIG nears completion, the first phase of construction at NIT is nearly complete and the second phase is underway. The efficiencies gained from the new capacity, combined with the metered flow of cargo via the port’s Truck Reservation System is providing the port – and its customers – with some much-needed breathing room after managing through the most difficult aspects of the expansion projects.
Rail volume came in at 45,604 containers, up 3 percent or 1,314 containers compared to prior year. Virginia Inland Port volume was also up 8.8 percent, or 272 containers. Barge volume was up 21.5 percent or 879 containers overall and up 54.1 percent or 1,196 containers for Richmond Marine Terminal.
January Cargo Snapshot
Total TEUs – 240,111, up 8.9%
Loaded Export TEUs – 77,948, up 2.2%
Loaded Import TEUs – 109,757, up 5.4%
Total Containers – 134,638, up 7.4%
Breakbulk Tonnage – 15,086 (tons), down 13.8%
Virginia Inland Port Containers – 3,372, up 8.8%
Total Rail Containers – 45,604, up 3.0%
Total Truck Containers – 84,060, up 9.2%
Total Barge Containers – 4.974, up 21.5%
Richmond Barge Containers – 3,406, up 54.1%
Vehicle Units – 1,977 – down 21.5%
The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VPA owns and through its private operating subsidiary, Virginia International Terminals, LLC (VIT), operates four general cargo facilities Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port in Warren County. The VPA leases Virginia International Gateway and Richmond Marine Terminal.
