Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Cargo Handled by the Port of New York, 1991-2011 (metric tons)

The port of New York is mainly an import port since it services a large metropolitan region that has lost a substantial share of its industrial base and focusing on services. The growth of the traffic handled by the port during the 1990s is solely attributed to cargo imports as de-industrialization endured. However, a new trend started to emerge in the 2000s, which involves a growth of export cargo. It involves a relative decline of the US dollar, making American exports more competitive and a rise in the price of commodities that have incited an active market for the export of waste products and recyclable materials.