The Port of New York and Jersey has recorded an 8.2 per cent rise in containerised cargo volumes for last year, compared with 1997 figures, bolstered by lower costs and greater productivity.
Its general cargo was up 10.6 per cent and bulk cargo was up 11.6 per cent.
Port authority chairman Lewis Eisenberg said: 'As our port business continues go grow, it invigorates the economy of the New York metropolitan area, creating tens of thousands of jobs that are distributed about equally between New York and New Jersey.' The surge in maritime cargo underscored the region's need to develop new maritime terminals in both states to meet the growing demand, he said.
The port's share of the United States North Atlantic containerised-cargo market rose again last year, to 55.7 per cent, from 54.6 per cent in 1997.
The dollar value of general cargo handled in the port rose 5 per cent last year, from US$62.7 billion to $65.9 billion.
Port authority executive director Robert Boyle said the port's market share increased to 38.9 per cent last year, up from 38.7 per cent in 1997, with key measures of cargo activity rising in double digits.
