Asia boosts NY & NJ volumes
Continuing growth in Asian trade boosted container volumes at New York-New Jersey by 14.6% during the first half of 2003. Imports from East Asia grew by 38%, while imports from Southeast Asia grew by 31%. Asian imports now account for 41% of all cargo handled by New York-New Jersey. This makes Asia the ports largest market, surpassing Europe for the first time.
During the past year, 1,100 new longshoremen were hired, increasing employment for an industry that already supports 228,000 jobs in the region.
The port combine has committed $1 billion over the next five years to upgrade rail access and increase terminal space at the New Jersey Marine Terminals including 45-foot channels in New York harbour by the end of next year.
Port Authority Executive Director Joseph J. Seymour said: “Today the largest armada of dredging vessels ever deployed in a single port is hard at work digging deeper channels that are an essential component of the harbour’s overall marine infrastructure.”