The Port of Milwaukee experienced higher cargo volume in 2013, with an expected total of 2.7 million metric tons, up from 2012’s 2 million tons.
The increase was driven by salt, with more than twice last year’s tonnage arriving by ship. About 1.3 million tons of salt were delivered to the Port of Milwaukee through the first 11 months of the year. It will be used mostly for de-icing streets during the winter.
Steel deliveries have also increased. Federal Shimanto delivered 7,000 tons of steel late last week in the final scheduled oceangoing ship delivery of the year.
Coal, cement, limestone, fertilizers, machinery, over dimensional project cargoes, liquids like biodiesel and ethanol and agricultural commodities like corn, wheat and soybeans are all delivered through the port.
ate this month, the St. Lawrence Seaway will close for three months. But the port remains active, with rail, truck and barge cargo being handled throughout the year. Barges travel the Mississippi River and its tributaries year-round.
“Through the month of November, cargo volume reflects better manufacturing activity in the region served by the Port of Milwaukee,” said Paul Vornholt, acting port director. “Infrastructure investments at the Port continue to improve the customer experience, and we hope that is a factor in maintaining and growing our traffic in the coming years.”
The Port of Milwaukee is a 467-acre City of Milwaukee entity that is governed by the Board of Harbor Commissioners, a seven-member panel appointed by Mayor Tom Barrett and approved by the Common Council.
