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Port of Portland Cargo Numbers Fluctuate by Staff Portland Business Journal, December 30, 2004

As of the end of November, total tonnage of marine cargo handled at the Port of Portland increased nearly 7 percent. But separate categories of cargo showed significant fluctuation.

Tonnage of uncontainerized cargo -- known as "breakbulk" in the industry -- increased 43 percent year-to-date. As of the end of November, the port handled 767,644 short tons, compared with the 2003 year-end total of 704,187 short tons. Imports of steel plate Oregon Steel Mills lead that increase.

Grain tonnage handled at the port increased 33 percent year-to-date through November. In the first 11 months of 2004, 3.6 million short tons of grain was handled at the port. Most of the grain traveling through the port is wheat grown on the eastern sides of Oregon and Washington.

The number of autos handled at the port declined .7 percent, a volume that equates 330,253 vehicles. The port handles the most vehicles of any port on the West Cost and the third highest volume of any port nationwide.

But the volume of containerized cargo imported and exported via the port declined 16 percent. So far this year, 260,428 20-foot equivalent units, which refers to the equivalent of cargo that fits into a 20-foot shipping container, have crossed port docks.

That decline is tied to a loss of service from containerized cargo carriers. Port officials have said they expect to regain service in the first half of 2005.