In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Port of Green Bay Director Dean Haen says shipping totals through the northeastern Wisconsin port are ahead of last year, despite the “complete disruption” of commerce in the spring.
Heavy snowfall in March as well as “epic rains” across the region led to flooding in the region, also resulting in high-velocity water flow downstream and disrupting shipping in the bay.
“Ship captains could not, you know, push those vessels safely up the river,” Haen said. “So we were closed for 30 plus days, which had never happened … in the records that I found in the history of the Port of Green Bay.”
While the port lost out on more than a month of shipping activity, taking a financial toll on the operators that use the port, the picture has brightened in the months since.
“We have rebounded and are up overall compared to last year, even though we lost that chunk of time,” Haen said.
Along with discussing how the port’s resident businesses grappled with the challenges posed by the temporary shutdown — including diverting products elsewhere at great expense — Haen shares details on how coming activity is shaping imports to the region.
“There’s lots of construction in the region, so driving raw materials for asphalt and cement, and then the ag products, limestone and others that are moving,” he said. “It’s looking good, and hopefully it holds true and we have a good year come December.”
Haen also touches on the port’s new terminal site, which is currently seeking a tenant for the 14.5-acre location. Construction on the $60 million project is underway and the site will be available next year.
Talking Trade is hosted by E.M Wasylik Associates Managing Director Ken Wasylik and M.E. Dey & Co. CEO Sandi Siegel and sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Carroll University and Michael Best Strategies.
