GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — The Port of Green Bay ended its shipping season earlier this month and port officials say it was a success. Total cargo shipments into and out of the port reached nearly 2 million tons, a 3% increase over a year ago.
“We kind of have a goal if we can hit 2 million metric tons a year, that’s a sign of a good shipping season," said Port Director Dean Haen. "Things are changing in the ports so us hitting 2 million tons a year is different than it was 2 years ago.”
Haen says things are changing because the types of commodities coming through the ports have changed.
“As coal consumption keeps going down, we’ve been successful at replacing that tonnage with other types of commodities like limestone and cement to make up that difference,” Haen said.
Officials reported that 178 ships visited the port during the 2021 season. Limestone, cement, and petroleum are among the commodities that increased the most this season. Limestone imports hit 639,357 tons, a 12% increase over last shipping season. Cement shipments reached 412,500 tons, increasing 5%. Petroleum products increased 71% to 378,768 tons.
The Port of Green Bay is vital to the economy of Northeast Wisconsin. The port's service area stretches from south of Sheboygan, to Wausau, to the Upper Peninsula. Each commodity plays a critical role in different industries.
The next shipping season is expected to begin in mid-March to early-April, depending on the weather and ice cover on the lakes and bay. Haen says the success of this past shipping season is a sign of a healthy economy.
“Having a good season means that our economy is doing well and we want to continue to serve that economy," Haen said. "We look forward to next shipping season and hopefully it’s much the same.”
