Coal helps propel Ports of Indiana's record year

The Ports of Indiana handled unprecedented levels of cargo in 2018, marking the best year in the organization's history.

The ports in Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon handled a combined 14.8 million tons of cargo, marking a 25 percent increase over 2017 and a 21 percent increase over the ports' previous record year in 2015, port officials announced late last week.

Last year was the first time in the Ports of Indiana's history that cargo volume records were set in each quarter, and the fifth consecutive year that the ports handled more than 10 million tons of cargo, they said.

Key drivers were coal shipments, up 58 percent; soy products, up 26 percent; and steel, up 4 percent year over year.

"We are so grateful for such an extraordinary year and fully appreciate what it took on behalf of all our port businesses and employees to achieve this kind of high-water mark," said Vanta Coda III, chief executive officer of Ports of Indiana.