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PORT OFGREEN BAY TONNAGE AFFECTED BY ECONOMY

(Green Bay) – 2009 proved to be yet another rough year for the economy and it shows in the numbers. A drop in shipments of domestic cargo resulted in a decrease in overall tonnage received by the Port of Green Bay during the 2009 shipping season.  The Port received more than 1.8 million metric tons of cargo in 2009, a decrease of about 18 percent from 2008.

Port Manager Dean Haen says domestic imports dropped from just over 1.9 million metric tons in 2008 to 1.4 million tons last year. Most noticeable was a 31% decrease in coal. “We knew the tonnage numbers were going to be down this year as a direct result of the economy,” Haen said. “As the economy struggled to recover, the need for raw materials went down considerably.”

Haen says an increase or decrease in tonnage is in direct relationship to the health of the local manufacturing and construction economy and its demand for raw materials such as coal, limestone, cement, salt and forest products. “Although we did see a decrease this year, the numbers were not as low as elsewhere in the Great Lakes because of the stable economy in Northeast Wisconsin,” Haen commented. “The Port has historically been a leading indicator of economic conditions for the region. The end of the 2009 shipping season may indicate that we will see tonnage increase in 2010 as the economy bounces back.”

Foreign shipments through the Port of Green Bay saw a 4 percent increase from 2008 to 2009.  The Port received just over 314,000 metric tons of foreign cargo last year, compared to 302,000 metric tons the previous year.  A large increase in salt (22%), contributed to the increase in foreign cargo. “Foreign imports were up mainly because last year’s harsh winter depleted Northeast Wisconsin of road salt and those inventories needed to be replenished,” Haen commented.

Despite the decrease in 2009, Haen says there remains great growth potential for the shipping industry. “Waterborne transportation is the safest and most cost effective mode of transportation,” Haen said.  “When the economy picks up and our rails and roads continue facing congestion, the port of Green Bay will provide an alternative transportation option for our regional businesses.”