Seattle sees record grain exports for 2008

Despite a dismal year in container volumes, the Port of Seattle said it set a grain export record during 2008, with shipments up 20 percent over 2007.

   The port moved 6.4 million metric tons of corn, sorghum and soybeans. Almost all of the grain handled by the port, which is grown in the Upper Midwest and arrive at the port via rail, is handled through the ports’ 40-acre grain terminal leased and operated by Louis Dreyfus Commodities. The majority is headed to make livestock feed in China, Japan and other Asian nations.

   The port’s grain terminal, which opened in 1970, has a maximum capacity of 4 million bushels.

   Last week the port posted a 2008 container volume decline of 13.6 percent to 1.7 million TEUs. Loaded import containers dipped 18 percent to 664,472 TEUs in 2008. Loaded export containers were off 13.7 percent at 434,546 TEUs.

   The port’s total container volume decline was the worst for any major West Coast port during 2008.

Source: American Shipper