The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

No big new contracts were announced at this year’s Port of Vancouver “state of the port” event — unlike the 2009 address when port officials unveiled two new, large wind turbine deals.

But then 2009 was not a growth year for the port, as it was in 2008.

Instead, the port was somewhat battered by the economy, as exports of construction materials, grain and other cargo fell, said Larry Paulson, the port’s executive director at the annual Port Re:Port event, held Thursday morning at the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay.

To stay afloat, the port has relied on ongoing contracts from last year, as well as a boost to steel scrap and malt exports.

“Our diversity of cargo has helped keep our heads above water,” Paulson said.

But, stay tuned, 2010 will be better and the port may yet announce new contracts, he said. Paulson predicts that wind turbines and other bulk cargo exports will grow and wheat and automobile exports will stay strong.

Total tonnage was down almost 13 percent to 4.8 million metric tons in 2009 from 5.5 million in 2008. And vessel calls fell to 403 ships in 2009 from 503 ships in 2008.

But the port saw steel scrap exports rise 36 percent to 318,000 metric tons in 2009 from 233,000 metric tons the previous year. And malt exports rose to 38,000 metric tons from 28,000 tons in 2008.

As a result, the port expects its total 2009 finances to be “a little under budget and a little over revenues” from what the port projected at the start of the year, though the final calculations aren’t yet complete, Paulson said.

Revenue forecast

The port in November forecast operating revenue of $44 million in 2009 and $49 million in 2010, compared to $27 million in 2008.

Despite the tight economic situation, the three-member port commission chose not to raise its property tax on Clark County constituents in 2010 in order to expand the port’s budget, said Jerry Oliver, port commission president.

“It wasn’t a good time to ask taxpayers for more,” Oliver said. “We’ll go forward with growth as we can afford to do so.”

The port started several new construction projects in 2009 that will continue and be completed in 2010.

Work on the new rail loop at Terminal 5, part of the $137 million West Vancouver Freight Access Project, began in November and is scheduled for completion in June. Contractor Rotschy Inc. employs about 100 construction workers at the site, according to the port.

And deconstruction of the former Rufener farm began in January to make way for Centennial Industrial Park, which the port expects will support up to 2,000 new jobs as tenants move in and develop the site in coming years.

“These construction projects are positive steps out of the recession as they set the stage for businesses currently at the port to begin to expand,” Paulson said. “They are reasons why new companies will want to move to the Port of Vancouver, bringing new jobs and an influx of new investment.”

Print this article