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Port Posts Record Year by Staff Portland Business Journal, December 26, 2007

The Port of Portland has set a new high-water mark for marine cargo, according to data released Monday.

Through the end of November, the port moved more than 13.2 million tons of cargo, eclipsing the previous record of 12.5 million tons moved in 2004. Total tonnage is up 22.5 percent this year.

Mineral exports drove much of the growth, climbing 33.5 percent for the year to date. The port primarily exports soda ash and potash. Soda ash is used to make glass. Potash is a fertilizer.

Container shipping is up 22 percent despite the suspension of local service by Israel-based Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. in September.

Other carriers have picked up the slack since Zim's departure, including Taiwan-based Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., which is bringing much larger ships to Portland.

Grain exports are up 15.2 percent to nearly 4 million tons.

Auto imports continued to slow in November. The port set a record last year when it imported 463,557 cars. It was on pace to break that record until last month when imports slipped to 39,842, well off last year's November imports of 50,139. The port is now 1.3 percent behind last year's pace.

The port's airport operations will also set a new record in 2007. The Port of Portland posted record volumes in air passengers last year, serving more than 14 million travelers.