Some Cargo Imports Hit by Downturn, Others Not

By Alison St John / Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published November 26, 2008 at 2:22 PM PST

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

The economic downturn is hitting the cargo business at San Diegos two Marine Terminals. But Port officials say there are bright spots the picture. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

The economic downturn is hitting the cargo business at San Diego’s two Marine Terminals. But Port officials say there are bright spots in overall picture. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

National City Marine Terminal is seeing a decline in the number of cars imported through the docks, and because of a slow down in construction, imports of lumber is also down.

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But Maritime Trade manager Joel Valenzuela says a trade mission to Asia last month secured contracts to import more giant windmill parts through Tenth Avenue Terminal through 2011. He says the Port hopes turbines and generators will be an increasing source of cargo revenue under the new Administration in Washington.

Valenzuela: It seems to be focusing on infrastructure and renewable projects as the foundation for the economic recovery stimulation plans. We’re hoping with that kind of incentive, there’ll be more of those kinds of products going through the port.

Valenzuela says Dole Fresh Fruits, the anchor tenant at Tenth Avenue, has not seen a decline in business due to the economy. The company continues to import 12% of all the bananas consumed in the United States though San Diego.

Alison St John, KPBS news.

Alison St John

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Alison St John currently serves as a general assignment reporter and occasionally co-hosts KPBS Midday Edition. She fell in love with KPBS Radio when she arrived in San Diego in 1985 and first heard NPR. She has been a voice on KPBS Radio since 1989, and has served as a news reporter for radio, TV and the web, as well as anchoring, hosting, producing and editing. Alison has reported on stories about North County and was based in the KPBS' North County Bureau. Alison covered the metro beat during the critical period of the San Diego City pension crisis, and the education beat while Alan Bersin was the controversial Superintendent of San Diego City School District. She covered health when the industry was converting to managed care and told welfare reform stories in the late 1990s when Clinton was “ending welfare as we know it.” She has covered land use issues extensively, looking at the challenges of meeting a growing population while preserving community character, and developing a better transportation system to meet environmental concerns. She has done many stories on the military in San Diego, and the series she edited on the challenges veterans face returning from active duty to civilian life won “Best of Show” from the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists. She occasionally hosts the KPBS Roundtable and KPBS Midday Edition. Alison has won awards from the San Diego Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press TV and Radio Association, and the California Golden Mike Awards. Alison was born in Tanzania, brought up in Scotland, and earned her degree in psychology and sociology from Durham University in England. Her postgraduate diploma is in student counseling. She worked in England, Nigeria, Switzerland, Belgium, India, and Japan before moving to the United States in 1981. She now lives in Oceanside and enjoys how her community is growing and changing.

Some Cargo Imports Hit by Downturn, Others Not

The economic downturn is hitting the cargo business at San Diegos two Marine Terminals. But Port officials say there are bright spots the picture. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

The economic downturn is hitting the cargo business at San Diegos two Marine Terminals. But Port officials say there are bright spots the picture. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.