Longshore workers at the Port of Vancouver USA transfer steel slabs from ship to truck

Longshore workers at the Port of Vancouver USA transfer steel slabs from ship to truck

Things are looking up at the Port of Vancouver USA! Existing cargoes are increasing, we’re seeing a good variety of products moving through the port, and we’re also welcoming some new customers – all signs that reflect an improving economy and have a positive impact on local and regional economic health.

Several cargoes in the first half of 2014 significantly outpaced the first half of 2013. As of June 30, 2014, we’ve handled 92 percent more grains (wheat, corn and soybeans), 26 percent more steel, 24 percent more automobiles, and an astonishing 6,500 percent more wind energy components than in 2013.

In case you like plain numbers, here’s how it breaks down:
 

Commodity

January-June 2013

January-June 2014

Quantity
increase

Percentage
increase

Grain (tons)

1,258,203

2,420,708

1,162,505

92.4

Steel (tons)

55,785

70,364

14,579

26

Automobiles (# cars)

31,929

39,566

7,637

23.9

Wind energy (# components)

158

10,435

10,277

6,504

 

This is exciting news! Ports are excellent indicators of general economic health, whether that means local, regional or national economies. This upward movement in cargoes tells us the economy is growing, and that growth is landing right here in our community.

A busier port means more local jobs, industry and buying power. It’s a ripple effect: someone works at the port, and she buys lunch or gets her hair cut or purchases a refrigerator. Her purchases help support other people’s jobs, and those people can now buy sandwiches or haircuts or appliances. Likewise, products flowing in and out of the port mean people in the agricultural, wind energy, automobile and other industries also have jobs and buying power.

This same ripple effect touches other parts of our lives. Increased cargoes and more people working translate to more ships, trucks, trains and commuters traveling through our community. You may notice more river traffic (hello, I-5 bridge lifts), trains and trucks carrying goods from source to market. While it’s no fun to get stuck behind a line of wind energy components leaving Vancouver for the Columbia River Gorge, in the long run it seems like a small price to pay for the economic benefits and security it brings our community.

Thanks for working with us to keep our community healthy, busy and sustainable. We’re excited about the growth and opportunities we’re seeing at the Port of Vancouver USA, and we’re proud to be your port.