WITH peak season nearing its close, the Port of Virginia in November handled 236,155 TEU, making it the second-busiest month in the port's history, according to IHS Media.

Compared to November 2015, TEU volumes are up 16 per cent; rail units, up 35 per cent; truck volume, up 8 per cent; Virginia Inland Port volume, up 3 per cent; and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) volume, up 20 per cent.

CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, John F Reinhart, said: "November was a strong month and we experienced solid growth in import and export volumes, which were up 17 per cent and 15 per cent (respectively); our peak-season volumes will begin tapering off in December, which is normal. We were in positive territory in many categories, but one exception is vessel calls and this is in keeping with the era of fewer calls, but larger vessels and corresponding cargo volumes."

The port handled a total of 475,000 TEU in October and November, "our single-best effort on record?It is important to recognise the fact that we processed this amount of volume safely and efficiently," he added.

November marks the tenth consecutive month in 2016 of TEU volumes exceeding 210,000 units.

"We believe developments like the recent expansion of the FTZ (Foreign Trade Zone 20) into seven counties and one city in northeast North Carolina will be of long-term benefit to The Port of Virginia," Mr Reinhart said.

Year to date, the port's TEU volume is up 3 per cent; rail units up 14 per cent; VIP volume up 3 per cent; and RMT volume, up 30 per cent. The import volume has grown by 5 per cent and exports are up 2 per cent.