Baltimore's Helen Delich Bentley Port handled 45.9 million tons of cargo in 2024, the second-best year on record behind 2023's 52.3 million tons, as the mid-Atlantic gateway continues to recover from the shock of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March.

In the second half of 2024, the port handled a total of 25.5 million tons of cargo valued at $62.2 billion, the third highest on record.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore made the announcement at a media event on Tuesday.

The port of Baltimore handled 848,628 tons of ro-ro farm and construction machinery, more than any other port in the United States, and also imported forest products and gypsum.

The hub handled 749,799 cars and light trucks, slipping to second place in the national rankings behind the Port of Brunswick, Georgia. Southern ports benefited from a Baltimore bridge accident in April that disrupted car and light truck traffic.

"The Port of Baltimore is one of the finest ports in the nation and one of Maryland's major economic engines," Moore said in a press release. "These figures show that despite a difficult start, the port has worked hard to end the year on a strong note. We are especially grateful to the port workers whose indomitable spirit and dedication have brought us to this moment. Our government will continue to promote our great ports through infrastructure investments that will help grow business and create more jobs."

Baltimore also ranks second in salt and coal exports, 10th among U.S. ports in total cargo volume and 11th in dollar value.

Maryland Port Authority Executive Director Jonathan Daniels called 2024 a "solid year" in a press release.

Daniels said at a transportation conference in January that the recovery effort was due in part to "tabletop" scenario exercises the port regularly conducts with stakeholders. He said 200 stakeholders were involved in the restoration of Key Bridge.

The container ship M/V Dali lost power and hit a bridge support, causing the bridge to collapse, killing six workers. The design for the new bridge has been announced and is expected to be completed in 2028.

Last year, the CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) Howard Street Tunnel project also launched double-decker container rail service. A temporary route allowing double-decker intermodal trains went into operation in October. The elevation of the tunnel, which opened in 1895, is expected to be completed in 2026.

In 2024, Carnival Cruise Line (NYSE: CCL), the world's largest cruise operator, signed a new five-year contract to continue docking in Baltimore with an option to renew for another five years.