Ports and Shipping-WORLDWIDE SHIPPING INDUSTRY-US seaports record surging volumes on back of robust economy.

Many US sea ports achieved record or near-record cargo volumes in the first half of this year, building on the high benchmark set in 2018 for import and export volumes, thanks to an expanding and resilient US economy.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey deputy director Beth Rooney was quoted as saying in a report by Washington's DC Velocity: "Year-to-date container volume is up seven percent over 2018, and that was a record year as well." The port is continuing to roll out expansion projects. Its latest achievement was the opening of the new ExpressRail Port Jersey facility that marked the completion of a major upgrade of the port's intermodal rail network.

Farther down the coast, South Carolina Ports Authority chief executive Jim...