North Carolina ports see 23% cargo growth

North Carolina ports see 23% cargo growth

   North Carolina ports Morehead City and Wilmington reported a combined growth of 23 percent in general cargo at the three-quarter mark of its fiscal year 2005.

   Morehead City posted a 55-percent increase in general cargo with rubber volumes increasing 46 percent and steel 79 percent over the same period last year. Morehead City is the second-largest U.S. port for imported rubber.

   In February, Gearbulk started serving Morehead City and has so far imported more than 20,000 tons of plywood and fencing material, North Carolina Ports said.

   Container business at Wilmington is up 41 percent, while general cargo shows a 26-percent increase and bulk cargo climbed 70 percent.