FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTLAND,
ORE. (December 12, 2012) – Columbia
Grain Extends Lease, Plans Future Expansion
With
unanimous approval of a new ground lease by commissioners this morning,
longtime Port tenant Columbia Grain, Inc. will continue to grow export volumes
at its Terminal 5 facility for at least another 25 years. Columbia Grain is a
leading world grain exporter located in Portland since 1978.
"We
are excited to extend our Terminal 5 ground lease, and this would not be possible
without the Port of Portland's leadership and advocacy to deepen the Columbia
River channel from 40 to 43 feet," said Tom Hammond, CEO of Columbia Grain. "In
addition, the Port, BNSF Railway, Union Pacific and Columbia Grain have and
will make significant investments in rail and facility expansion to insure that
Terminal 5 remains competitive in the future."
Columbia
Grain owns and operates 61 grain elevators in six western states with a
combined storage capacity of 1.3 million metric tons. The company purchases
wheat, corn and soybeans from over 5,000 producers and merchandises this grain
to all major U.S. domestic markets and thirty foreign countries. Columbia's
annual handling volume is approximately 9 million tons per year. The 43-acre
facility at Terminal 5 is the company's primary gateway for export shipments.
As
a Port tenant, Columbia Grain has spent approximately $18 million on capital
improvements, technological upgrades and facility enhancements. Columbia Grain
plans expansion within 30 months to meet customer demand and will improve the
existing grain elevator by constructing new storage, cleaning, transporting and
inventory management systems inside the leasehold. The terminal expansion
investment is approximately $40 million.
Since
the days of the wheat fleet in the mid-1800s, grain exports have been a major
part of Portland's history and growth as a trade gateway. Today, grain remains
the top cargo type handled by tonnage, comprising approximately 35% of the
Port's 13.4 million tons handled in 2011. Portland is the largest wheat export gateway in the nation and third
largest grain export region in the world.
About the Port of Portland
Established in 1891 by the Oregon Legislature, the Port of
Portland owns four marine terminals, three airports (Portland International,
Hillsboro, and Troutdale) and five industrial parks. The mission of the Port is
to enhance the region's economy and quality of life by providing efficient
cargo and air passenger access to national and global markets.
About Columbia Grain, Inc.
Columbia Grain, Inc. was formed in 1978 to create a superior
source of western grain for domestic and export markets worldwide. A leader in
Pacific Northwest grain markets, its supply lines include the western region of
the U.S., well known for its high quality wheat, feed grains and pulses.
Columbia Grain's Terminal 5 facility located in Portland is one of the most
automated and integrated grain export facilities in the world.