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Port Marine Terminals Break Freight Volume Record by Staff Portland Business Journal, January 31, 2005

Increases in grain exports and steel break bulk imports boosted freight volumes through the Port of Portland's marine terminals 5.2 percent in 2004. The port shipped 500,000 tons more than during record-setting 1999 despite fewer vessel calls.

Columbia Grain exported 3.9 million tons of grain in 2004, breaking its export volume record. Oregon Steel's 36 percent increase in break bulk steel plate imports helped grow overall break bulk volumes 26.7 percent over 2003.

Bulk exports, including potash, grain and soda ash increased 10.7 percent over 2003 volumes. In July, Kinder Morgan signed a 6.5-year lease with the port to continue exporting soda ash through Terminal 4.

The port's auto-handling business was down slightly in 2004, totaling 358,682 Hyundai, Honda and Toyota autos imported and exported. The port signed a 10-year lease with Honda in November and completed the redevelopment of Toyota's $40 million auto-import and distribution facility in December.

Although Hanjin Shipping announced plans to add container capacity in Portland with larger ships, the port lost Hyundai and "K" Line services during 2004. The number of ocean shipping containers through the port totaled 274,609 twenty-foot equivalent units, down 19 percent from 2003.