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For Immediate Release

PORT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORTS DRAMATIC CARGO GROWTH IN 2007

October 9, 2007 -- VANCOUVER, Wash.-It has been said before, but the proof is in the numbers and through the first eight months of 2007, the Port of Vancouver is bursting at the seams.

Port of Vancouver Executive Director Larry Paulson today reported the port’s cargo statistics through August 2007 to the Vancouver Port Commission in its regular public meeting, and used statistics from previous years to illustrate a comparison to the port’s cargo handling in years past.

“It’s been a challenging year for the Port of Vancouver, but I think sometimes we forget that we really do run, in a lot of respects, a business here,” Paulson told the Commissioners. “I wanted to give you an idea of some good things that are happening.”

Paulson’s report included the following:

Total Tonnage

• The Port of Vancouver is on pace to handle more than 5.5 million tons of cargo this year, a 46 percent jump since 2005.
• Total cargo tonnage is up 21.2 percent over 2006.

Vessel Calls

• In 2005, 502 ships called on the port. Last year, 526 ships called on its docks.
• Through August of 2007, 369 ships had visited the port.
• Close to 580 vessel calls are expected this year.
• Vessel calls are up 11.9 percent this year over 2006.

Auto Imports

• The Port of Vancouver is the West Coast port of entry for Subaru, and last year imported more than 43,000 Subaru automobiles and distributed them to dealers across the Western United States.
• The port has already imported 32,223 Subaru automobiles. I’m told that by the end of this month, this port will have imported nearly 36,000 Subarus.

Wind Turbine Imports

• When the Port of Vancouver started importing wind energy components in 2005, enough components to make up 83 complete wind turbines passed through the port.
• Last year the port handled 127 complete turbines.
• Through August of this year, the port had handled the components to build 305 complete wind turbines, and an additional 120 towers.

Import Tonnage

• Four years ago, the Port of Vancouver imported nearly 700,000 metric tons of cargo.
• Through August of 2007, the port was at just less than 650,000 metric tons of imported cargo.

Wheat Exports

• Last year, the Port of Vancouver’s grain elevator handled more than 3.2 million metric tons of wheat set for export.
• Through August of this year, the port had exported nearly 2.5 million metric tons.
• The port’s grain elevator, operated by United Harvest, exports 16 percent of all U.S. wheat.

Copper Concentrate Exports

• In 2004, the Port of Vancouver had handled just 32,357 metric tons of concentrate on export. Last year, it handled an all-time high of nearly 309,000 metric tons.
• This year, the port is on pace to handle even more than that, having exported nearly 250,000 metric tons through the end of August.

Paulson’s report to the commission also noted that the port’s industrial space is currently 100 percent leased, and has been for some time.

“What I’m saying is, this port is having a good year,” Paulson told Commissioners.

Paulson also took a moment to report on the progress of the port’s planning after the Industrial Development District (IDD) levy vote.

“I also wanted to say that as we are looking at what has been termed ‘Plan B’ – which is coming out of the decision by the voters of this community to not have the levy – we are moving forward to do our mission, which is to supply jobs to this community and provide the opportunity for economic development,” Paulson said. “We are not contemplating any return to the IDD levy. That is not part of what we’re doing. We took the message to heart. Your staff is moving forward with the funding that we do have – there will be changes, there will be differences, but at the same time, we will be moving forward to provide jobs and the economic opportunity that we think this community still wants us to do in the operation in the marine and industrial properties that we have.”