Little Rock Port Authority Reports Strong Shipping Totals For December And 2018

December 2018’s barge activity at the Port of Little Rock (Ark.) closed the year on a strong note, with 41 barges and 62,000 tons of cargo being moved across the docks. The slackwater harbor dock handled 26 barges—the other 15 barges were worked at the main river terminal.

Commodities handled during December included aluminum tees, nepheline syenite, potash, project cargo, steel coils, sulfate, urea, wetcake and wire rod coils.

Last year was a record year for the Port of Little Rock. Logistic Services Inc. (LSI), the port’s stevedore, handled 551 barges and 838,020 tons of cargo. This is an increase of 37 percent from 2017. LSI loaded or unloaded 149 more barges than the previous year, which included 228,000 more tons of cargo.

In addition to the barges handled by LSI in 2018, Buzzi Unicem unloaded 77 barges, with a total of 115,000 tons of cement during the calendar year.

In total, the Port of Little Rock saw a combined total of 628 barges and 953,000 tons of cargo being moved across the docks.

Total tonnage on the Arkansas River for the month of December was 814,803 tons. Total tonnage on the Arkansas River for 2018 was 10,932,172 tons.

“The Port of Little Rock continues to be one of Arkansas’ largest economic engines and we are excited that our industry partners continue to thrive,” said Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority.  “2019 promises to be another strong year for the Port of Little Rock, and we are optimistic that the economy will continue to grow as tonnage and rail uses increase.”