Port Re:Port

Port of Vancouver USA

Port Re:Port 2012

A century of possibilities.

Celebrating 100 Years of Jobs, Growth and Community

From the vote that established the Port of Vancouver on April 6, 1912, to the bustling docks and industries of today, the port continues to make investments that bring jobs and business to Clark County.

2011 IN REVIEW

Operating Income Increases

The port had a healthy year, generating nearly $5.7 million more in operating income over 2010. These critical funds will be reinvested in port infrastructure projects that leverage private investment and create jobs for our community. One such project is the port’s ongoing West Vancouver Freight Access rail project that is expected to create 1,000 new, permanent jobs and 4,000 construction jobs.

Operating Income (18% increase over 2010)

• 2011 - $37,015,000
• 2010 - $31,317,000

Cargo Tonnage Holds Steady

The port handled 5.6 million metric tons of cargo in 2011, down slightly from 2010. Overall cargo trends held steady with wind energy, pulp, scrap metal and project cargo leading much of the growth, while other cargos, such as automobiles, wheat and bulk minerals, dipped due to the recession and global events.

Total Cargo Tonnage (1.8% decrease from 2010)

• 2011 – 5,575,804 metric tons
• 2010 – 5,679,726 metric tons

Overall Imports (6% decrease from 2010)

• 2011 – 770,170 metric tons
• 2010 – 823,437 metric tons

Pulp Imports (64% increase over 2010)

• 2011- 101,073 metric tons
• 2010 – 61,490 metric tons

Steel Imports (34% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 135,687 metric tons
• 2010 – 101,370 metric tons

Project Cargo Imports (110% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 11,344 metric tons
• 2010 – 5,414 metric tons

Subaru America, Inc. Imports (17% decrease from 2010)

• 2011 – 49,356 vehicles
• 2010 – 59,184 vehicles

Overall Exports (1% decrease from 2010)

• 2011 – 4,805,000 metric tons
• 2010 – 4,856,000 metric tons

Pulp Exports (25% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 51,266 metric tons
• 2010 – 41,111 metric tons

Lumber Exports (42% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 4,397 metric tons
• 2010 – 3,104 metric tons

 Scrap Metal Exports (19% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 554,507 metric tons
• 2010 – 464,043 metric tons

Marine Activity Grows

A deeper Columbia River shipping channel and innovative marketing efforts resulted in 456 ocean-going ships and river barges calling on the port in 2011, up from 405 in 2010. Many of those vessels carried U.S. wheat, the port’s number one export by volume, to such faraway places as Japan and the Philippines.  Others brought wind turbine components from Korea and China to our docks, making 2011 the port’s best year ever for wind energy cargo.

Vessel Calls (13% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 456
• 2010 – 405

Wheat Exports (2.7% decrease from 2010)

• 2011 – 3.6 million metric tons
• 2010 – 3.7 million metric tons

Wind Energy Imports (321% increase over 2010)

• 2011 – 106,182 metric tons
• 2010 – 25,240 metric tons

Industrial Sector Rebounds

The port welcomed two new businesses, Sapa Profiles and Puget Sound Pipe & Supply, to its tenant roster of more than 50.  These two additions brought the port’s occupancy rate up to 94 percent, and this is impressive number is expected to rise to 97 percent within the first half of 2012.  Overall, marine and industrial businesses at the port employ an estimated 2,300 people and generate approximately $1.6 billion in economic benefit to the region annually.

Environmental Milestones Reached

The port, together with Clark County Wetland Mitigation Partners, completed permitting for more than 150 acres of port property for a wetland mitigation bank, the first of its kind in Clark County.  2011 also saw the first sale of credits from the bank to offset development impacts within the service area. In addition, the port successfully cleaned approximately 3.5 billion gallons of water as part of the nearly complete, multi-year Fruit Valley Groundwater Cleanup effort to address contamination from a former land owner. And finally, the port increased its purchase of Renewable Energy Credits, equal to 100 percent of the port’s electrical consumption.