06/21/2020
Virginia volume drops 22.6%
News by WCN Editorial
May saw the Port of Virginia experience its biggest one-month volume drop since COVID-19 began slowing the global economy.
Container numbers at the Port of Virginia fell by 59,000 TEU in May 2020 compared with May 2019. “The decline is reflected in almost every area of the operation: truck moves, rail volume, breakbulk tonnage and the amount of cargo being handled at Virginia Inland Port. The amount of cargo the port is moving by barge and volumes at Richmond Marine Terminal, however, grew, 3.4 percent and 24 percent, respectively,” the port said.
“It is a significant loss in volume that is being felt throughout the organization and the situation is similar across the entire maritime industry,” said John F. Reinhart CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We are forecasting that this trend will continue through the end of summer because our customers are telling us that the blank sailings will continue into early September. The blank sailings were supposed to subside in early August, but the ocean carriers are telling us the volume just isn’t there yet. Our economy is reawakening and we are optimistic about the future, but the recovery is going to take time and patience.”
During the pandemic the port has continued to operate with protective measures including the use of face masks, social distancing and working from home where possible, and “has been very fortunate and come through this largely healthy and intact,” Reinhart said. Meanwhile work continues on infrastructure projects, including the expansion of NIT’s south-side container stack yard, the 55-foot channel project and Orsted’s offshore-wind project at Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT).
In May, the final shipment of Konecranes ASCs arrived at Norfolk International Terminals, “successfully ending just over two years of constant deliveries of the machines that are the centerpieces of the expansion at that terminal; NIT’s expansion will be complete this fall,” the port said.
“Our focus is on building a modern, efficient port that serves as an economic engine for all of Virginia and provides long-term value for our customers and the cargo owners that choose The Port of Virginia,” Reinhart said.
The port added that it is also “supporting the effort to confront the realities of the systemic racist practices and injustice that have been part of the daily lives of Black Americans”. It joined the ILA and US ports from Maine to Texas in an “hour of reflection” on the tragic death of George Floyd.
“This effort is as important as anything we are doing right now,” Reinhart said. “We must show one another and our communities that we are steadfast in confronting the realities of our system and we are committed to our values and to each other. We stand in solidarity with the Black community in the fight against a centuries- old pattern of violence and suppression. There is a significant amount of work that lies ahead, but we cannot be deterred by that. Open, honest, and compassionate dialogue with each other and the willingness to listen and learn are the beginnings of positive change.”
May Cargo Snapshot (Data from the VPA)
Total TEUs – 201, 837, down, 22. 6%
Loaded Export TEUs – 72, 160, down 18. 1%
Loaded Import TEUs – 87, 669 down, 26. 7%
Total Containers – 112, 913, down, 22. 7%
Virginia Inland Port Containers – 2, 117, down 24. 7%
Total Rail Containers – 37,205, down 27.4%
Total Truck Containers – 71,117, down 21.3%
Total Barge Containers – 4,591, up 3.4%
Richmond Marine Terminal Containers – 3,413, up 24%
