Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tonnage Volumes Up at Redwood City Port


The total tonnage of all commodities moving through the Port of Redwood City during the first half of the 2012-13 fiscal year was 666,543 metric tons, according to the port, nine percent above the same six months during the preceding fiscal year.

The Port of Redwood City, located 18 nautical miles south of San Francisco, is the only deepwater port in the South San Francisco Bay. It specializes in bulk, neo-bulk and liquid cargoes. Its fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, with the end of December representing the year’s halfway point.

Imported sand and aggregates from British Columbia accounted for 444,060 metric tons, or nearly 67 percent, of the tonnage for the first half of the fiscal year, according to the port. This was more than a 20 percent jump in the amount from the same period last fiscal year.

Shipments of bauxite and gypsum from Australia and Mexico, although not large tonnages, added to the mix of inbound cargo.

A big decline has been seen in exports of shredded scrap metal during the first half of FY13, however. The six-month amount totaled 132,009 metric tons, nearly 25 percent below the same period last fiscal year, something the port attributes to a weak international market for scrap metal.

Thirty-eight vessels – 24 ships and 14 barges – made calls at Redwood City during the first half of FY13 compared to 30 vessels – 25 ships and five barges – during the first half of FY12, according to port data.