Major American west coast ports either suffered flat or declining container volumes last year, but not east coast Boston, which reported a record throughput in 2007 of 1.7 million tons.
Combined imports and exports at the port's Conley Container Terminal increased by more than 10 per cent year on year to reach 220,341 TEU, reports Massachusetts-based Logistics Management citing figures from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).
Boston's growth was attributed to an increase in cargo activity with Asia, which has been rising since 2002, and the completion last June of the US$28-million Conley Terminal, a two-year construction project started in July 2005.
The new terminal raised the container terminal's existing capacity by 50 per cent and is expected to improve box-handling efficiency by enabling trucks to arrive, collect containers and depart faster than ever before. Truck turn-around times were 39 minutes in 2007 compared to 56 minutes in 2005.
Massport spokeswoman Lisa Langone told Logistics Management that authorities, expect roughly a five to seven per cent growth this year with exports playing a key role. "The value of the dollar overseas has made American products very desirable. [Shippers] are looking for more cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly ways to move goods therefore we are starting to see more freight moving by water," she said.
Main Boston imports include alcohol, frozen seafood, footwear and furniture. Main exports are hides and skins, cars, logs, lumber, frozen seafood, recycled paper and metal ware.
"Benefiting from almost 14 million consumers within easy reach, the New England region is one of the nation's most affluent, with a high consumption of imported goods. Equally impressive is the northeast's strong export market. Shippers and carriers alike benefit from trade made faster and more competitive via the Port of Boston," said Ms Langone.
Combined imports and exports at the port's Conley Container Terminal increased by more than 10 per cent year on year to reach 220,341 TEU, reports Massachusetts-based Logistics Management citing figures from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).
Boston's growth was attributed to an increase in cargo activity with Asia, which has been rising since 2002, and the completion last June of the US$28-million Conley Terminal, a two-year construction project started in July 2005.
The new terminal raised the container terminal's existing capacity by 50 per cent and is expected to improve box-handling efficiency by enabling trucks to arrive, collect containers and depart faster than ever before. Truck turn-around times were 39 minutes in 2007 compared to 56 minutes in 2005.
Massport spokeswoman Lisa Langone told Logistics Management that authorities, expect roughly a five to seven per cent growth this year with exports playing a key role. "The value of the dollar overseas has made American products very desirable. [Shippers] are looking for more cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly ways to move goods therefore we are starting to see more freight moving by water," she said.
Main Boston imports include alcohol, frozen seafood, footwear and furniture. Main exports are hides and skins, cars, logs, lumber, frozen seafood, recycled paper and metal ware.
"Benefiting from almost 14 million consumers within easy reach, the New England region is one of the nation's most affluent, with a high consumption of imported goods. Equally impressive is the northeast's strong export market. Shippers and carriers alike benefit from trade made faster and more competitive via the Port of Boston," said Ms Langone.