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Posted at 4:50 p.m. on February 4, 2019
The Brillion News
GREEN BAY – For the first time in five years, the Port of Green Bay moved more than two million tons of cargo in one shipping season, with 2,087,391 metric tons were moved during the 2018 shipping season, representing a 14 percent increase over 2017.
The figures were released Monday by the Brown County Port and Resource Recovery Department.
A shipment of petroleum products was imported on January 28, 2019, marking the end of the 2018 Port of Green Bay shipping season. The closing date of January 28 marks the latest closing date at the Port in at least the past 30 years (as far back as records go), and may very well be the latest closing date in the history of the Port of Green Bay.
“We’re very pleased to see the high totals for the 2018 shipping season,” said Dean Haen, Port Director. “Two million tons is typically our goal for a shipping season, and this year’s strong economy in Northeast Wisconsin made that achievable.”
The 2018 season began with a movement of petroleum products on March 26, 2018, which was five days later than both the 2016 and 2017 season due to winter weather.
Major positive contributors to the 2018 season included foreign import increases of petroleum products by 528 percent and limestone by 230 percent, and domestic exports of petroleum products by 151 percent.
“Growth in petroleum product movements continues to be exceptional year after year,” added Haen. “Much of the growth can be attributed to the closure of a petroleum pipeline serving Northeast Wisconsin. The Port was ready to step in and facilitate the movement of this crucial commodity.”
Decreases in 2018 were experienced in domestic imports of U.S. salt by 84 percent and foreign imports of salt by 17 percent. Domestic exports of ash ceased, and exports of limestone decreased by 64 percent. The Port also saw the number of vessels this season increase by 8 percent to a total of 180, compared to 167 vessels in 2017.
~ Source: Brown County