SNAPSHOT.

North Carolina has two of the nation's 167 ports. In 1999, nearly 5 million tons of cargo flowed in and out of the Morehead City and Wilmington ports.

EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES

Employment at North Carolina's ports has decreased 19.5% since 1992 to 273, though the N.C. Ports Authority estimates that port operations support more than 80,000 jobs statewide.

TOP IMPORTS

In 1999, imports to North Carolina were up 17.8% over the previous year. Chemicals were the largest import at Wilmington. Ore, mica and schist topped the list at Morehead City.

CARGO

Tonnage at the Port of Wilmington has increased 16% since 1992. At Morehead City, it has dropped 16.2%.

TOP TRADING PARTNERS

In 1999, North Carolina exported 782,637 tons of cargo to Japan, its top trading partner, but imported just 53,670...