A mainstay for the Port of St. Bernard has been imported steel, primarily in the form of wire rod. Associated Terminals Vice President Cy Hill said the cargo is moving from Germany, the Black Sea area, China and South America. "The market is hot right now. Shipments of wire rod have been quite heavy with a throughput of about 70,000 tons in the past two months.

Wire rod entering the Port of St. Bernard is transferred to barge or trucked locally to Gerdau Ameristeel's Atlas Steel and Wire Division where it is converted to nails and wire mesh. Other consumer products produced from wire rod include coat hangers, frames, springs, and lamp shade holders. Steel discharged to barge heads upriver to Midwest consumer markets, including Chicago, Memphis, and St. Louis.

Hill said St. Bernard is a cost effective facility for steel and other general cargo shippers. "Our location enables shippers to save money, especially when ships go midstream."

"We can give them one stop shopping if the ship has bulk cargo as well as steel on board. Our ability to handle both breakbulk and bulk cargo is a service that is unique in this region to Associated Terminals, said General Cargo Manager Barry Hoth.