Redwood City port boasts 19% cargo increase for year

   The Port of Redwood City in Northern California reported a 19-percent increase in cargo volumes for fiscal year 2013-2014, ended June 30.
   The port authority said the increase reflects “a significant increase in construction in the Bay Area and the high quality of building materials from British Columbia.” 
   The 12-month figure was 1,784,659 metric tons, up from 1,493,190 metric tons from the previous fiscal year, and the highest at the port since 2006. It also was the third-highest recorded volume in the port’s history.
   “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 Michael J. Giari, the port’s executive director, in a statement. 
   These commodities arrived on 64 ships and 25 barges during the fiscal year.