The Port of Virginia has seen its second consecutive month of cargo volumes exceeding 300,000 TEU due to strong import loads.
In September 2021, the port processed more than 306,000 TEU, an increase of 50,000 TEU (19%) in comparison with September 2020. Loaded import volume reached 152,000 TEU, an increase of 26%.
This follows on from the success in August 2021, when the port handled more than 307,000 TEU, its busiest August on record.
“The growth we’re seeing is not artificial and the movement of loaded and empty containers is up, for both exports and imports,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority.
“Last September is when volumes began coming back and since then we have posted growth each month. The operation is fluid and the Virginia Model of being an operating port, where we own, lease and operate all of the assets, allows us to be agile in meeting the needs of our customers and cargo owners.”
Since the beginning of 2021, the ports container volume has reached 2.58 million TEU, an increase of 589,136 units (30%) when compared to the same period in the previous year. Surging volumes are expected to continue through the rest of the year.
“There is no congestion here and ocean carriers and cargo owners are taking notice of our track record and what we are doing to ensure consistency in our operation,” continued Edwards. “We are maintaining our efficiency and service levels because we are monitoring the operation so closely and continuing to add modern assets. The result is that they are choosing Virginia because they see value here.
“We may see a dip as the retail season comes to its end, but this is normal and any fall-off in volumes will be small. Looking to 2022 we see nothing that leads us to believe that there is going to be a drop in volumes. It is going to take some time before the supply chain returns to normal.”
The full breakdown of The Port of Virginia’s September 2021 cargo throughput, compared to September 2020, is as follows.
Total TEU – 306,219 up 19.4%
Loaded Export TEU – 80,697 up 6.8%
Loaded Import TEU – 152,197, up 25.7%
Total Containers – 170,998, up 21.6%
Virginia Inland Port Containers – 2,297, down 31%
Breakbulk Tonnage – 4,332, up 1.8%
Total Rail Containers – 53,405 up 16.4%
Total Truck Containers – 110,452 up 25.2%
Total Barge Containers – 7,141 up 9.4%
