Do you ever shop at Target, Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe’s or Dick’s Sporting Goods and wonder how these stores get their merchandise? Of course not! Most people never give a second thought about the journey behind what they buy. But the fact is many of the items sold in the stores we shop in come right through the Port of Baltimore.
The Port of Baltimore is one of Maryland’s top economic engines, generating more than 20,000 direct jobs. It’s jobs like longshore workers, who load and unload large 40-foot-long containers. These containers are filled with everything from big screen TVs and new smartphones to furniture, clothing and sports equipment.
Truck drivers are also a vital part of the Port. They drive in and out of the Port of Baltimore every day to pick up containers and take them to distribution centers. Then, those goods make their way to where you shop.
Of course, products travel in the other direction, too. Goods made here in the U.S. are put in a container, taken by truck to the Port of Baltimore where they are placed on a ship and sent to countries around the world.
In addition to the work at the Port, more than 273,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to a healthy, busy and vibrant Port of Baltimore. These are workers that depend on the Port to bring them the equipment or resources that they need to do their jobs. For example, a mechanic may need a specific auto part to arrive from overseas, or a teacher who needs new laptops that will help her teach her class.
So, the next time you are out shopping and you see something that says, “Made in Vietnam” or “Made in China,” remember it very likely came through the Port of Baltimore.
Richard Scher is the Director of Communications at the Maryland Port Administration