The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals handled more containers and general cargo tons than ever before during fiscal year 2017, which ran from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. The port handled 907,957 TEU containers and 10,347,794 tons of general cargo, which includes cars, containers, farm and construction machinery, forest products and breakbulk.

The previous records for the most TEU containers and general cargo tons in a fiscal year was in fiscal year 2016, with 868,875 TEU containers and 9,787,011 general cargo tons.

“The Port of Baltimore is a leading economic engine for our state and continues to benefit from a tremendous year, ” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our administration will continue to ensure the port remains one of the busiest ports in the nation.”

Business at the port generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while more than 127,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to port activities. The port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in individual wages and salary and more than $310 million in state and local tax revenues.

The port handled 897,871 tons of general cargo in June and 2,754,113 general cargo tons overall in the second quarter. In June, the port handled 87,565 TEU containers, the most of any month in its history. In the first six months of the calendar year, the port handled 5,324,178 general cargo tons, more than the first half of any other calendar year.

The Port of Baltimore was the fourth fastest-growing port in North America in 2016, with a 9.8 percent increase in the amount of cargo handled from the previous year. That came on the heels of several other achievements and a record-setting 2016, in which the port’s public marine terminals surpassed 10 million tons of general cargo for the first time and handled a record number of containers, 538,567.

Momentum from 2016 continued into 2017, with the port coming out of the gate in January with a record month for general cargo and container tons. The port’s strong performance continued with a record first quarter for general cargo tonnage. Containers are up 10 percent year over year at the Port of Baltimore. MDOT MPA recently announced the purchase of 70 acres of land near the Seagirt Marine Terminal to be used for additional cargo opportunities, including containers.