Port of New Orleans:
Under Massive Renovations

The first section of a new $300 million cargo terminal opened at the Port of New Orleans in December of 2000. The port is also undergoing massive renovations at the riverfront with the construction of a new state-of-the-art container terminal and additional cargo space. The Port, located upriver from the famous French Quarter, sits on a bend in the waterway and is home to the world's longest wharf, 2.01 miles (3.2 kilometers). The port is served by six class one rail lines and has had $500 million in improvements within the last 10 years.
       

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New Orleans has learned from past history not to tie the port to one specific industry. During the 1984 oil bust, the city was heavily tied to the oil industry. When oil production dropped, so did traffic at the Port of New Orleans.
        "One of the things we learned from the oil bust was that if you put all your eggs in one basket, you've got a problem," says Schwaner. "A fair amount of effort has been spent on things like port infrastructure at the Port of New Orleans. We've really concentrated on building kind of an international trade base primarily through the ports."
        New Orleans has long had a strong historic association with coffee. Folger's, the 140-year-old coffee company, operates the world's largest coffee roasting plant in eastern New Orleans. The city is now the primary port of entry for much of the US imported coffee market. In 1999, the Crescent City handled more than 320,000 tons (290,299 metric tons) of coffee, nearly one-quarter of all green coffee imported into the US. Numerous warehouses and shipping companies support the coffee industry.
        "This city is a perfect fit for this commodity," says William Madary of International Coffee Corp. "We've got service, space, expertise and location. What more could you want?"

Port of South Louisiana:
US Largest Tonnage Port

The Port of South Louisiana is located on the Mississippi River, halfway between the Port of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. It is the largest tonnage port in the Western Hemisphere and handles 15 percent of all US exports. The 54 miles (87 kilometers) of port facilities includes general cargo docks, grain elevators and bulk docks. The Port of South Louisiana also owns the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal in Reserve, La. The 205-acre (83 hectares) maritime industrial park is currently under renovation and has both dock and cargo facilities.
        The port has also attracted industrial growth along a three-parish river region accounting for some $14 billion in capital investment. Much of this industry supports the export of agricultural products from the port and currently there is available land for new industrial enterprises.
        "The Port of South Louisiana handles a lot of bulk cargo like grain," says Schwaner. "The Midwest grain comes down from Iowa, Illinois and Kansas. It will go out on Chinese freighters from the Port of South Louisiana. So there's significant trade going on here."
        More than 100,000 barges and 4,000 ocean-going vessels call annually at the Port of South Louisiana. Officials have approved the final phase of a $30 million investment in a series of additional improvements to port services.

Shreveport:
One Million Tons of Cargo

Last spring, the Port of Shreveport-Bossier City handled its 1 millionth ton of cargo. Located in Northwest Louisiana and four days from New Orleans by barge, the port has only been in operation three years. Cargo is being handled at the port in a greater volume than anticipated in just a short period of time.
        "The port is developing ahead of schedule," says Jerry Harris, former board member and Port Commission president.
        Located only a short distance from Interstate 20 & 49 access, Shreveport-Bossier also offers dock rail service and a switchyard. Cargoes handled by the port include fertilizer, coiled steel, liquid product and coal. According to UPS, the Shreveport-Bossier City area is among the top five cities in the country capable of reaching the largest segments of the population with next-day service.

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