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Economics
Preserving the Region’s Access to World Markets
Maintaining marine commerce by deepening the Columbia River Navigation Channel is critical to sustaining the region’s trade-based economy
Maritime trade has long defined our region’s identity, culture, and economy. |
- The Columbia River first loaded wheat on an ocean-going vessel in 1869, aboard the Helen Angier, bound for Liverpool.
Since then, the importance of international trade has grown along with the Pacific Northwest’s economy.
- In 2004, more than 30 million tons of cargo valued at $16 billion was imported and exported from Columbia River ports.
- Columbia River shipping tonnage has tripled since the last channel improvement was authorized in 1962.
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The Pacific Northwest’s international trade depends on direct access to world markets. In large part, that access is provided by the Columbia River deep-draft shipping channel.
The deep-draft channel keeps transportation costs down. It allows more than 1,000 regional growers, producers, and manufacturers to remain competitive in global markets.
- Regional container shippers save $68 million a year by shipping their cargoes through Portland as opposed to more distant ports.
Today, the 40-foot navigation channel depth is inadequate for new, larger and more efficient ships.
- More than 80% of the vessels in the transpacific trade are constrained by the 40-foot channel depth.
- Because vessels cannot load efficiently, shippers pay higher costs to transport their goods, either due to higher ocean rates or increased overland transportation costs.
The maritime industry generates well-paying jobs in local communities.
- A recent study by the Columbia River ports identified 40,000 jobs that are dependent on seaport activity. These jobs pay $46,000 per year on average. An additional 59,000 jobs are held by persons working at firms shipping cargo via the Columbia River.
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