According to a report from The Maritime Executive, the Port of Baltimore experienced its second-best annual performance on record during 2025. This marks continued progress in the port’s recovery from the 2024 incident that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused a weeks-long closure of most port operations.

Read also: Port of Baltimore Container Traffic Recovers to Pre-Collapse Levels in 2025

Maryland’s Governor announced that the port complex handled around 50 million tons of cargo last year. The total value of that cargo reached $65.6 billion, which stands as the third-highest value in the port’s history. The 2025 tonnage exceeded the 45.9 million tons handled in 2024, though it remained below the record 52.3 million tons set in 2023.

Nationally, Baltimore ranked tenth among U.S. ports for the value of foreign cargo and eleventh for foreign cargo tonnage, moving nearly 50 million tons in that category. The port’s container terminal saw significant growth, handling 1.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) from 2,223 vessel visits, a twenty-one percent increase from the prior year. Weekly container services also increased from twelve to fifteen. Roll-on/roll-off cargo remains a major strength. The port led the nation in handling farm and construction equipment, moving over 887,000 tons, a six percent annual increase. It also ranked second in the United States for auto and light truck volume, processing over 728,000 units for the thirteenth consecutive year above the 700,000 mark.

Other leading commodities included forest products, where Baltimore was the top U.S. port, handling 1.1 million tons. The port also placed second nationally for exported coal and for imports of aluminum, gypsum, salt, and sugar. Beyond cargo, the port served as a cruise homeport for over 413,000 passengers, a figure that ranks in its top ten historical cruise passenger counts.

Officials expect further growth in 2026, linked to the completion of a major rail tunnel modernization project. This project is anticipated to allow double-stacked container trains to access the port, potentially increasing annual container volume by approximately 160,000 units and supporting nearly 14,000 jobs.

Concurrently, work has begun on a replacement for the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Initial contracts have been awarded, though projected costs have risen significantly, with estimates now ranging from $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion. The new bridge is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2030.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform