With 4,418,674 metric tons of cargo handled at the Port of Philadelphia in 2012 compared to the 4,001,759 tons handled in 2011, the maritime facilities of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) showed a healthy 10.42% gain in cargoes handled last year.

While the national and world economy still challenges our efforts in many ways, our most recent annual cargo statistics again demonstrate that the Port of Philadelphia is on the right track, said PRPA Executive Director James T. McDermott, Jr. Our 2012 cargo figures not only represent the third year in a row where we've seen double-digit growth, but it also means that since 2009 we've experienced a more than 30% increase in tonnage. And that's not only a solid indicator that the economy is improving, but especially great news for the thousands of jobs generated by port activity for our region, and the numerous other economic benefits the Port of Philadelphia provides.

Highlights among the Port's 2012 cargo statistics include the following: with 197,854 tons handled last year, steel was up 21%. With 47,457 tons handled, project cargo was also up 21%. Sugar, a brand new cargo for the Port of Philadelphia in 2012, weighed in at 24,331 tons last year.

Other cargoes may not have increased as much on a percentage basis, but the sheer amount of cargo handled made their performance just as dramatic, if not more so. This was especially true for automobiles.