WILMINGTON, N.C. -- According to North Carolina Ports, Wilmington container growth is up 38 percent and general cargo is up 18 percent for the 2018 fiscal year.

  • Contents of containers range from clothes to food
  • The port is responsible for more than 76,000 jobs and $700 million each year in state and local tax revenues
  • Ports do not plan on slowing down

Inside the thousands of containers they move throughout the year, could range from clothes to food. The port said bringing more containers, means lower prices.

"We're able to help provide the services so they can, customers in North Carolina, could receive their cargo more efficiently and less costly, than perhaps moving through another port," said Brian Clark, North Carolina Ports C.O.O.

Clark said that while other ports along the east coast could handle more containers, Port of Wilmington and Morehead City are more efficient.

"We have faster turn times," said Clark. "We have higher vessel productivity, and all that leads to cost savings to our customers and the trucking community that uses our port."

The port is responsible for more than 76,000 jobs and $700 million each year in state and local tax revenues, according to North Carolina Ports.

Wilmington Business Development C.E.O., Scott Satterfield said being near a port makes a big difference.

"The ports are an essential and vital part of our economic development efforts," said Satterfield. "And, they really have helped continue to put the greater Wilmington region on the map."

He said having a strong port nearby is a great selling point to bring more businesses to the area.

"A large portion of our project activity is related to utilizing the port and showing those capabilities, and it's a work class operation," said Satterfield.

With $200 million invested in infrastructure improvement, Clark said the ports do not plan on slowing down.

"Our customers and their customers, the end users, are starting to realize the benefits and really taking notice of the improvements and the plans for the future," said Clark.

Two new neo-Panamax cranes arrived to Port of Wilmington in March and a rail-mounted gantry crane is expected for the Port of Morehead City by summer 2019.