Port of Redwood City reports slight drop in cargo volumes

The South San Francisco Bay port is a big handler of sand and gravel in Silicon Valley’s backyard.

   After three years of annual double digit cargo growth from 2012-2014, the amount of cargo moving through the Port of Redwood City dipped 3.8 percent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 to 1,715,633 metric tons. Still, it was the fourth best year in the modern history of the Northern California port.
   Located in South San Francisco Bay and close to Silicon Valley, the Port of Redwood City handles more sand than any other single commodity — not the ultrapure stuff used to make integrated circuits, but sand and aggregate used in construction of office buildings, homes, highways and other infrastructure.
   Approximate percentage breakdowns by commodities handled at the port were: imported sand, 47 percent; imported aggregates, 31 percent; exported scrap metal, 14 percent; imported bauxite, 2 percent; imported gypsum, 3 percent; domestic sand, 1 percent; and imported ground slag, 1 percent.
   The port said there is “continuing strong demand for construction materials in Silicon Valley and the South Bay, particularly the high quality sand and aggregates shipped to the port from British Columbia.”
   “The high quality of the sand and gravel aggregates from British Columbia, combined with the dwindling supply of these materials in Northern California because quarries are unable to expand, triggered a strong demand that the port benefited from,” said Redwood City Executive Director Michael J. Giari.
   Building aggregates arrive at the port on ships with their own gear, provided by Canadian Steamship Lines, according to the port.
   “Eagle Rock Aggregates is the supplier of these construction aggregates. The company operates the Orca Quarry, located on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., which is a high quality sand and gravel resource with significant long-term capacities,” the port said.
   Operations Manager Don Snaman said 96 vessels — 58 ships and 38 barges — made calls at the Port of Redwood City during the fiscal year compared to 89 vessels the year before.