Port of New Orleans Recovers 94% of pre-Katrina Cargo

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he Port of New Orleans has recovered about 94% of its pre-Katrina cargo, the Associated Press reported last Friday.

The latest available figures from the port, which include data from the first four months 2006, indicate that general cargo tonnage only 3.8% lower than the same period in 2005, AP reported.

General cargo includes goods shipped in containers in addition to such goods as steel and rubber, which are transported on pallets.

Bulk cargo in 2006, including such goods as grain and oil, declined 8 percent compared with last year, while overall cargo handled at the port over the first four months of the year dropped to 12.4 million tons from 13.3 million tons in the same period in 2005 —about a 6.5% decline, AP said.

Following the impact of Hurricane Katrina last Aug. 29, the port lost about one-third of its operating capacity and shut down for 12 days, forcing many shippers to reroute their cargo to other ports, AP reported.