Port of Virginia volumes down 3.6 percent in July

The Port of Virginia said Wednesday that its cargo volumes were down 3.6 percent in July.

The port handled 8,000 fewer TEUs in July, which port officials attributed to a realignment of some vessel services, which resulted in nine fewer vessel calls in July.

“Fewer vessels in July and the stress put on export volumes by the strong dollar are among the primary drivers behind our July performance,” Virginia Port Authority CEO and Executive Director John Reinhart said in a statement. “Still, we are in positive territory on a calendar-year basis, our financial picture is positive, peak season is coming, and we just had two port-users announce regional projects that will add to our cargo volumes; there is a lot to be optimistic about.”

On a to-date calendar year basis, the port handled a 1.1 percent increase in cargo volumes through July when compared with the same period last year. Notably, rail volume has grown 10 percent on a calendar year basis. The number of containers being handled at the Virginia Inland Port has grown 13.8 percent to 22,937.

In addition, the number of containers handled at the Richmond Marine Terminal rose 26 percent.

Earlier this year the port signed a 40-year lease of the Port of Richmond, increasing the size of the barge hauling containers between Norfolk and Richmond on the James River and adding new equipment to the river terminal.