Port of Pascagoula traffic falls

PASCAGOULA — The Port of Pascagoula’s public terminals moved 700,876 tons of cargo last year, almost 130,000 tons, or 16 percent, less than it moved in 2008, according to data released by the Jackson County Port Authority.

Port Director Mark McAndrews tells The Mississippi Press that in 2008, the port moved 829,736 tons of cargo, about 82 percent of which was forest products or frozen poultry.

Forest products fell 20 percent to 270,385 tons in 2009, down 69,172 tons.

Iron and steel cargoes rose from 489 tons in 2008 to 1,879 tons in 2009, while chemical cargoes rose 33 percent from 42,237 tons to 56,314 tons year-over-year.

Miscellaneous cargo, or goods the port does not handle on a recurring basis, fell 71 percent in 2009 to 29,648 tons.