Port of South Louisiana
The Port of South Louisiana is located between New Orleans, Louisiana and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, sprawling along 54 miles of the Lower Mississippi River. As one of the largest tonnage ports in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of South Louisiana is not only the highest grain exporter in the United States (over 50 percent of the nation’s grain is exported via the Port of South Louisiana), it is also ranked third in both exports and imports. With over 36 million short tons of crude oil imports per year, three major oil refineries, and 11 petrochemical manufacturing facilities, the Port of South Louisiana has been ranked the number two energy transfer port in the nation. The Port also operates one of the most active Foreign Trade Zone (#124) in the country (ranked 4th). With 12 zones, it received over $34.6 billion in merchandise and facilitated the employment of over 9,407 in 2020.
The Port of South Louisiana has one of North America’s largest concentration of heavy manufacturers, a reflection of its strategic location, comparative market access, and highly-skilled labor pool. Its jurisdiction extends from Mississippi River mile 114.9 Ahead of Passes (AHP) near the Louis Armstrong International Airport, and continues north to mile 168.5 AHP, just north of the Sunshine Bridge. It envelops the parishes (counties) of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James, collectively named the River Region. It lies at the intersection of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico and an intermodal transportation network of waterways, roadways, railways, and air, featuring access to four interstate highways, four Class I railroads, the Louis Armstrong International Airport (KMSY), and Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport (KAPS).
Along both banks of the river, more than 50 piers and docks owned and operated by an impressive group of industry that includes ADM, Dow, Cargill, Valero, Bunge, Marathon, Shell, and Nucor Steel reside within the district. Its headquarters are currently located in LaPlace, Louisiana. Overall, the navigational depth of the Mississippi River is 45 feet (13.7 meters). The region continues to attract billions of dollars of investment (currently at $23.262 billion) by companies within, but not limited to, the petrochemical, fertilizer, and logistics industries. The Port contributes $1.8 billion in income, $14.4 billion in revenue, and $72.5 million in state and local taxes and handles over $83 billion in trade annually that supports over 30 thousand direct jobs (6 out of 10 jobs) in the River Region.
Industries from all over the globe have taken notice of the Port of South Louisiana’s competitive advantages. As a matter of fact, the region has attracted billions of dollars of investment –$22.287 billion to be exact– by companies in the petrochemical, fertilizer, and logistics industries. Projects like these are vital to sustaining and promoting further economic prosperity for the Port of South Louisiana, the River Region, and its labor force.
Please learn more here or contact IRPT Member:
Paul Matthews, Executive Director/CEO
Post Office Box AE
Reserve, LA 70084
(985) 652-9278
pmatthews@portsl.com