Ocean shipping: August volumes at Port of Baltimore are second-highest ever, says MPA

Recent monthly volume gains at the Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals continued their record-breaking pace in August, according to data released this week by the Maryland Port Administration (MPA).

In August, 57,510 TEU (Twenty-foot equivalent units) moved through the Port of Baltimore, marking the second highest monthly volume total ever recorded at the port, behind only July, which hit 63,740 TEU. Rounding out the top five volume months at the port are June 2010, July 2005, and July 2006 at 57,277 TEU, 56,454 TEU, and 56,219 TEU, respectively.

MPA spokesman Richard Scher said these volume gains are a sign that consumer demand is beginning to bounce back, with more purchases being made and people’s buying confidence being somewhat stronger than it was a year ago.

“The improving economy—even though we are at the beginning of the recovery—is certainly a big part of this, but another big part is that two years ago we were able to sign MSC and Evergreen to extended long-term agreements in Baltimore,” said Scher.

Both carriers are under contract for the next several years, which, Scher explained, will keep containers coming into the port and maintain existing port jobs. MSC’s contract runs through 2014, and Evergreen’s is through 2018. Hapag-Lloyd, APL, and NSCSA among several other carriers call on the Port of Baltimore, too.

“The recent surge in containers coming through the Port of Baltimore is very good news for retailers, consumers and jobs at the Port,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley in a statement.  “This trend indicates that consumer demand is on the rise, more goods are being produced and more cargo is being exported and imported.  These are all very favorable signs as we continue to recover from an extremely challenging economic decline.”