The container sector was one of the highlights of the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) in a record-breaking 2021, when the port saw double-digit growth in box volumes, breakbulk and overall port tonnage.
PhilaPort has achieved a 15% increase in its TEU volumes, reaching approximately 740,000 TEU during the previous year, with imports growing 16% and export 15%, marking a new milestone.
“Not only did we surge in container volumes, but some beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) shifted to breakbulk shipments,” commented Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of the port. Indeed, the US port reported a 19% growth in its breakbulk cargo volumes, which climbed to 1,288,226 metric tons in 2021.
“PhilaPort is one of the only US ports that has several facilities that are purpose-built to handle breakbulk,” noted Theobald.
In the meantime, the overall tonnage of the Port of Philadelphia grew 10% to more than 7 million metric tonnes, crushing the port’s highest record set back in 2017 at 6,868,747 metric tons.
