The mid-Atlantic port saw general cargo tonnage surge 21.6 percent year-over-year in January to 1.86 million tons.
The Port of Virginia handled 228,516 TEUs in January, a sharp increase from the 192,844 TEUs it handled in January 2016, according to the Virginia Port Authority (VPA).
The VPA reported the following cargo figures for the month in comparison to January 2016:
• Exports increased 17.5 percent to 121,232 TEUs;
• Imports increased 20 percent to 107,284 TEUs;
• And general cargo tonnage increased 21.6 percent to 1.86 million tons.
“The continued growth comes as the port prepares to begin work on its three-year capacity expansion plan at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and Norfolk International Terminals,” the port authority said. VPA CEO and Executive Director John F. Reinhart said the port authority will break ground on the expansion at VIG in the next few days.
Port officials in September 2016 signed a 50-year lease extension at VIG in exchange for the private sector owners financing the second-phase of development at the terminal. Upgrades at VIG will double the terminal’s capacity to more than 1.2 million containers, or 2.1 million TEUs.