The state-owned public marine terminals at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore continued their hot start to 2018 with two new monthly records set in May. The Port handled 61,058 autos and light trucks besting its previous record of 60,624 set in November 2015. Also, the Port in May handled 90,152 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) containers, the most in one month since August 2017 when it handled 88,391.
“As one of our state’s leading economic engines, the Port of Baltimore is further proof that Maryland is Open for Business,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our administration is proud to support the Port and congratulates the thousands of hardworking Marylanders who ensure this vital asset continues to break records.”
Last month, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration announced the 312-yearold Port of Baltimore had its best quarter ever during the first quarter of 2018 as a record amount of general cargo and containers made their way through the state-owned public marine terminals. A total of 2,765,247 tons of general cargo crossed the public piers during the first three months of 2018, 8 percent more than the first quarter of 2017, which was 2,560,065 tons. Also, the Port handled 156,991 containers during the first quarter, a 14 percent jump over 2017, which was a record year for containers at the Port of Baltimore.
The new records follow a record year in 2017 for the Port’s public and private marine terminals. The Port of Baltimore handled 38.4 million tons of cargo in 2017, the most since 1979 and the third-highest tonnage in its history. The public marine terminals, managed by the MDOT MPA, handled a record 10.7 million tons of general cargo. It was the second consecutive year the public terminals handled more than 10 million tons of general cargo. Included in the general cargo number was a record 596,972 containers, an 11 percent jump from the previous record set in 2016.
The Port’s combined public and private auto terminals also had a record year in 2017 by handling 807,194 cars and light trucks. It was the first time surpassing the 800,000 car/light truck mark and the seventh consecutive year that Maryland had handled more cars and light trucks than any other U.S. port.
Among the nation’s ports, the Port of Baltimore ranks first for autos and light trucks, roll on/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, and imported sugar. The Port ranks second in exported coal. Overall, the Port ranks ninth among all ports for the total dollar value of cargo and 12th in foreign cargo tonnage.
Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while about 127,600 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local tax revenues.
