St. Louis Region’s Inland Port System Climbs to #2 Spot for Total Tonnage

The latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reveals the St. Louis regional ports moved from the third position into the second position for inland port total tonnage in the 2018 rankings. The port system handled 37.4 million tons of commodities over the course of the year, a 13.2% increase over the prior the year. Just 1.1 million tons separated it from the top position, which the Port of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky held onto, despite a drop in its total tonnage for the year. The rise in the rankings adds to the accolades for the St. Louis region, which continues to rank as the most efficient inland port district* in the nation in terms of tons moved per river mile. During 2018, the St. Louis region’s barge industry handled more than 534,000 tons per mile along the 70 miles that make up the port system. The system also has the second highest concentration of port facilities per mile of all inland ports, contributing to growing awareness of a 15-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that flows through southwestern Illinois and eastern Missouri at St. Louis known as the Ag Coast of America.