Port of South Louisiana: CEO’s Log

Records continue to be broken at the Port of South Louisiana and the global shipping industry is taking notice. In the last fiscal year, our Port saw the highest revenue generated since our creation. That follows a year in which PortSL saw its first net increase in tonnage in six years. It’s not a coincidence that these trends are being reversed. Our team is focused on producing results and attracting new activity at the nation’s second largest tonnage port.

Recently, Port of South Louisiana’s Foreign Trade Zone moved from the number four spot to having the second highest overall economic impact in the nation. In 2022, it received $72.5 billion in merchandise [a 50% increase from 2021 ($48.4)] and employed 5,533 people. This truly illustrates the value of the Port of South Louisiana and how we are driving the region, state and nation’s economy.

In this day in age, businesses and agencies across the globe face an ever-evolving series of cybersecurity threats. We have made our security, especially in the cyber space, a top priority. By being bullish in seeking resources in this space, PortSL was awarded $1.9 million in Port Security grants from FEMA to make a variety of improvements to the port, including cybersecurity enhancements, facility resilience, and geographic information system (GIS) implementation. This is in addition to the nearly $1 million in funding the Port received last year. This will ensure that the Port is protected from threats that would interrupt the commerce that affect the nation’s national security.

We continue to monitor global shipping trends and import/export activity, especially with our sister ports. As America’s leading grain exporter, it was a natural fit for our Port to enter into a MOU with one of Europe’s top grain producing countries. 10% of the world’s wheat and 15% of the world’s corn pass through the Port of Odessa under the Ukraine Sea Ports Authority. Our MOU aims to create a cooperative alliance that will share best practices and help to reconstruct port infrastructure and operations once the Russian conflict subsides. Our agreement solidifies PortSL’s support for the Ukrainian people in the defense of their freedom and creates economic prosperity for our regions.

Our Louisiana Legislature has wrapped up its final session of this term and our Port was successful in passing important legislation and acquiring capital outlay funding thanks to our incredible River Parish delegation. I want to especially commend Senator Smith, Speaker Schexnayder and Representative Gaines whose legislative service has come to an end due to term limits. Our Port has reached incredible heights thanks to their phenomenal leadership and support for over a decade.

As we enter into the final quarter of 2023, I wish all of our industry partners success as we navigate challenges that come our way. Know that PortSL stands ready to assist in any way we can and remain a steadfast partner with you as we collectively grow Louisiana’s economy. Our door is always open for anyone who wants to do business at Port of South Louisiana. After all, we are A BETTER WAY TO CARGOI