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Last year, a 45 percent boost in steel traffic helped the Ports of Indiana handle a record $1.9 billion worth of cargo, up 23 percent compared with 2005’s 36-year high cargo value.

The three ports — located in Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon — surpassed the $1 billion mark for the third-consecutive year. In addition, each port set a cargo value record: Burns Harbor, $820 million (up 21 percent year over year); Jeffersonville, $588 million (up 30 percent); and Mount Vernon, $482 million (up 20 percent).

Besides steel, the ports handled more grain, up 8 percent, and coal, up 6 percent compared with 2005 volumes. The Burns Harbor port’s steel cargo rose 57 percent to a record level.

“Steel shipments were up largely because the strong U.S. demand for steel was far greater than the domestic supply,” said Steve Mosher, director of the Burns Harbor port, in a prepared statement. “It also helped that Great Lakes shipping rates were very reasonable and international steel prices remained competitive.”