Today, April 5th, seaports of the Americas will celebrate Western Hemisphere Ports Day—an opportunity to showcase our industry’s role in job creation and economic prosperity. Ports are a vital part of the transportation infrastructure within the state of Washington and Pacific Northwest, and indeed the whole Western Hemisphere connecting farmers, manufacturers, workers and consumers to the global marketplace.
United in our common goal of creating prosperity throughout the Hemisphere, the Port of Kalama is proud to join hundreds of ports in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, to highlight and celebrate the value of ports.
Like ports worldwide, the Port of Kalama has an ongoing commitment to help educate our community and its leaders about the important role we play as a vital link to the global economy.
The importance of ports in our region is well documented. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, in 2016 North American ports handled 1.79 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.07 trillion.
However, the economic worth of all cargo in terms of jobs and business activity is much greater than its market value. According to a recent survey, in the U.S. alone, port activity generates over 23 million jobs and accounts for over one quarter of the nation’s economy.
Ports also play a critical role in providing goods that impact our everyday lives. Millions of tons of food, clothing, medicine, fuel and building materials, as well as consumer electronics and toys, move through Western Hemisphere seaports every day.
We are proud to join hundreds of Western Hemisphere seaports in the celebration of Ports Day. In support of workers, farmers, employers, manufacturers and consumers everywhere, we are excited to meet the growing demands of the future.
