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NAVIGATING SUCCESS

Navigating Success: The Port Aims High These records in ship calls, tonnage handled and
On any given day at the Port of Stockton, ships are import/export ratios are a result of the Port’s long-
being loaded with molasses to Argentina, cottonseed term investment in improving infrastructure, which has
to Australia, or ships are being unloaded carrying greatly helped to increase the flow of goods across the
steel from Japan, fertilizer from Norway, gypsum docks in 2014. For example, in the past five years, the
from Mexico, or rebar from Peru, which are just some Port has made significant investments in dredging its
of more than 55 countries with businesses using our docks so ships can be fully loaded and operate more
facilities. Cargo is also being received from businesses e ciently. Also, the Port’s investment to expand rail
located as close as Stockton or located in Colorado, facilities has allowed goods to move to and from its
Utah, Wisconsin, Nevada, Oregon, or Arizona, as the facility more e ciently, as nearly 44,000 rail cars
Port provides facilities for a variety of businesses provided a significant link between ships and local,
throughout the nation. Today, you will also find many regional, and national customers – representing a 30
infrastructure improvements that are currently under percent increase over the previous year and again an
construction to prepare for future growth, while more all-time record.
than a hundred businesses and thousands of people
are working supporting the local economy every day. The Port’s leasing activity was also strong in 2014, with
The Port of Stockton is indeed a busy, growing place. revenue increasing by more than nine percent. During
this past year, the Port was successful in negotiating a
This variety of activity has resulted in 2014 being yet lease with Union Pacific Railroad, which is constructing
another year of strong growth in many sectors at the a major rail welding facility. When completed, this
Port. This past year, the number of ships calling on facility will produce single segments of rail exceeding
the Port was 230 vessels – the highest number of the length of three football fields – the longest
ships in a year in its 82-year history. This represents a manufactured in the world, providing safer and more
25 percent increase from the previous record of 182 e cient rail activity throughout Union Pacific’s entire
ships set in 2012. The Port also handled more than western United States system. This facility will provide
4.1 million metric tons of cargo in 2014, the highest more than 100 permanent, construction and indirect
level in 10 years and a 36 percent increase over the jobs to Stockton and the greater San Joaquin County
previous year. The value of this tonnage increased region. To serve this facility, Union Pacific Railroad has
to an estimated $1.5 billion, with exports of American built a specialized ship for the project, which will
products exceeding imports for only the second time import rail segments from Japan. This ship, the M/V
in the Port’s history. This activity has led to revenue Pacific Spike, made its maiden voyage to the Port in
increasing to $54 million in 2014 – another all-time December 2014. (continued on page 5)
record and more than 300 jobs added in just a
single year.

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