Commodities
From the early French settlers through Mark Twain and the riverboats until today, the Mississippi river flows with commerce and trade providing for an entire continent. The nation depends on the strategic waterway for the transportation of vital goods and materials. Last year alone the St. Bernard Port handled 4.8 million tons of cargo. Metallic ores and minerals, ferro alloys, petroleum coke, zinc concentrates, fertilizers and steel are just some of the important materials unloaded here from ocean going vessels. Then by barge fleets, rail and trucks, these cargos are shipped to plants and facilities throughout the U.S. Their destinations are Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Saint Paul, Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Little Rock, Houston, Birmingham, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma an all points in between.