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Marine Freight Numbers Falling by Staff Portland Business Journal, August 17, 2009

The Port of Portland is on pace to have its lowest marine freight numbers in nearly two decades.

The port in June handled just 637,594 tons of marine cargo, its second lowest month this year. Year to date, its 5.3 million tons of freight is nearly 39 percent off last year's pace.

If the marine freight industry stays sluggish, the port could handle fewer than 10 million tons of freight this year for the first time since 1990.

Every freight category is off last year's pace by double-digits led by breakbulk cargo, which is down more than 62 percent.

Mineral bulk cargo is down 57 percent from last year, while the number of auto units handled at the port is off by nearly 53 percent.

Grain tonnage has fallen just 17 percent, while container cargo is off 27.1 percent.