Coming off of a strong second quarter for cargo tonnage, the Port of Redwood City’s tonnage for all commodities in the first half of fiscal year 2013/2014 reached 829,681 tonnes, an increase of 24 percent over the same period last year.

Imported sand and aggregates from British Columbia made up more than three-fourths of total tonnage at   642,480 tonnes, a 45 percent increase, the port said in a statement.

The next largest cargo by tonnage was exported shredded scrap metal by Sims Metal Management, totaling 136,286 tonnes, a gain of 16 percent.

Shipments of bauxite from Australia, gypsum from Mexico, and domestic sand from the San Francisco Bay-Delta added to the mix of inbound cargo.
During the period, 36 vessels (30 ships and 6 barges) called the Port of Redwood city, compared with 38 vessels (24 ships and 14 barges) during the first half of FY13.

Driven by the construction boom in Silicon Valley, tonnage of construction materials through the port is expected to continue to grow in the second half of this fiscal year.

The Port of Redwood City, the only deepwater port in South San Francisco Bay, provides berths for dry bulk, liquid bulk and project cargoes.