August is top month for Green Bay port

Posted at 4:45 p.m. on September 9, 2019

The Brillion News

GREEN BAY – The month of August brought the highest amount of cargo through the Port of Green Bay so far this year.

A total of 316,224 tons were moved in August, bringing the 2019 shipping season total to 1,299,927 tons. That’s an 18 perrcent increase in tonnage year-to-date from 2018.

The main contributors to the increase were limestone and petroleum products, along with an increase in salt.

Domestic limestone imports are up 75 percent over 2018, and petroleum products foreign exports up 72 percent. Foreign imports of petroleum products increased, up 47 percent over last year.

“In August, we saw big imports of limestone and salt to the area,” Port Director Dean Haen said. “As we make our way into winter, stockpiles of salt are starting to be built up. In Wisconsin, salt is an important commodity that keeps our roads and drivers safe from ice. We’re likely to continue seeing salt as a major import in the following months.”

Negative contributors to August’s tonnage included a drop in domestic exports of limestone, petroleum products and project cargo, as well as a drop in foreign imports of limestone.

So far this year, 101 vessels have moved through the Port of Green Bay, one more than the same time last year.