WASHINGTON: Container volume at the Port of Virginia in July dropped 3.6 percent year-over-year, while it’s up 1.1 percent for the first seven months of the calendar year, port officials announced Wednesday. The number of containers moved in July, measured in standard 20-foot units, or TEUs, fell to 217,910, from 225,988 in the same month a year ago.
“We knew our July volumes would be modest, but we are preparing for our peak season and we are expecting a positive trend in the coming months,” said John Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, in a statement. “Fewer vessels in July and the stress put on export volumes by the strong dollar are among the primary drivers behind our July performance,” he added.
A realignment of some vessel services calling on the port resulted in nine fewer vessel calls for the month. Export TEUs moved through the port in July fell 6.5 percent from the same month a year ago, while import units were flat at -0.1 percent. Year-over-year for the period from January through July, rail-container volume at the port was up 10 percent, while truck volume dropped 4 percent. On a percentage basis, the port moves more cargo by rail than any other East Coast port.
