The Port of Wilmington, Delaware Sets a New Tonnage Record

(Wilmington, Del.) – The Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) announced that in 2011 the Port of Wilmington, Delaware handled 5,084,478 tons of cargo, a 26% uptick year over year, and achieved the highest general cargo tonnage throughput since the 1995 acquisition of the Port by the State of Delaware. The DSPC is a state entity which owns and operates the Port of Wilmington. Increased import and export tonnage was experienced in all major cargo categories during the past year.

Based on the Port’s 2011 performance Wilmington retains its leadership position in the following trade categories:

• North America's number one port for imported perishable cargo;
• The largest banana port in the USA and the second largest in the world;
• The nation’s leading port for juice concentrates, and
• The largest loading port for cattle exports on the US East Coast

“It is the teamwork of the men and women at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware, and the support of our customers and business partners that enabled us to reach this important milestone in the Port’s history,” remarked Gene Bailey, executive director of the DSPC. “This very strong cargo growth means additional jobs for Delawareans, and underscores the value of the Port as an economic engine for the State of Delaware and the tri‐state region.”