Cargo handled by the Port of Baltimore rose nearly 17 percent last year -- its best showing since 1988.
General cargo moving through the five public terminals in Baltimore jumped to 6.3 million short tons in 1994, or nearly 1 million more than in the previous year, according to a report released yesterday by the Maryland Port Administration.
The increase represents the 10th straight quarter of cargo growth for the port, which has made a significant comeback after heavy volume losses in the 1980s and early 1990s.
With the addition of new steamship lines and service, container tonnage grew to 4.6 million short tons, or a 571,154-ton increase. That growth was reflected in both imports, up 18 percent, and exports, which increased 10.5 percent.
All the port's major cargo categories -- including containers, automobiles, steel and other break bulk commodities, such as wood pulp and construction equipment -- experienced strong growth last year.
"The Port of Baltimore has a very unique asset in its balance of trade," said Michael P. Angelos, executive director of the state agency that oversees the port. "In the event market change exists, you can sustain the growth."
The port has long benefited from its proximity to both the populous Baltimore-Washington consumer market and major Midwest manufacturing centers. In the past year, consumer demand for cars, electronics and other products has begun to catch up with manufacturing.
Automobile imports, for instance, increased 6.5 percent here last year while automobile exports jumped 21 percent. Steel tonnage tallied 338,149 short tons, growing by 194,850 short tons over 1993 as the stronger U.S. economy increased the demand for imported steel.
The growth at the port stemmed from new services by existing steamship lines as well as the addition of one major line, China Ocean Shipping Line. But Mr. Angelos predicted that the pace will drop off this year, with growth expected between 5 percent and 10 percent.
But he cautioned that Baltimore, in the face of intense competition from other East Coast ports, will have to work hard to keep existing cargo and attract new cargo.
"This is an extremely competitive industry, and ports to our north and south are already doubling their efforts to attract new cargo and hold on to existing tonnage," he said.
"We've got our work cut out for us in 1995."