Port of Baltimore Posts Strong Rebound as Gov. Wes Moore Highlights Recovery

Nearly two years after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Maryland's governor points to progress at the state's major port.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 9:20pm

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Governor Wes Moore visited the Port of Baltimore on Tuesday, touting the facility's strong rebound in cargo volumes and highlighting Maryland's economic recovery efforts nearly two years after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Moore also discussed the impact of former President Trump's tariffs, which were recently struck down by the Supreme Court, noting that the Port of Baltimore was among the hardest hit areas.

Why it matters

The Port of Baltimore is a critical economic engine for Maryland, handling about two-thirds of the country's goods. Its rebound from the Key Bridge collapse and ability to weather the impacts of federal trade policies are seen as important milestones in the state's broader recovery efforts.

The details

Mark Schmidt, president of Ports America Chesapeake, one of the country's top cargo terminal operators, said they had a successful 2025, setting a record at the Seagirt Marine Terminal with 677,000 lifts. Governor Moore praised the port, saying it represents the pride of Maryland and the entire country.

  • Nearly two years after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Governor Wes Moore visited the Port of Baltimore on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
  • Last month, the United States Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump.

The players

Governor Wes Moore

The current governor of Maryland, who was highlighting the state's economic recovery efforts and the rebound at the Port of Baltimore.

Mark Schmidt

The president of Ports America Chesapeake, one of the country's top cargo terminal operators, who reported a record year in 2025 for the Seagirt Marine Terminal.

Former President Donald Trump

The former president whose tariffs were recently struck down by the Supreme Court, which had a significant impact on the Port of Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“When you look at the materials that are coming through here, it's not lost on anybody here, it's not lost on any of our workers, the fact that we have seen increases in everything from steel to concrete to aluminum, and we're not talking small increases.”

— Governor Wes Moore

“We saw a really solid rebound in our volumes where we set a record at the Seagirt Marine Terminal with 677,000 lifts that happened across the pier.”

— Mark Schmidt, President of Ports America Chesapeake

“This place right here represents where about two thirds of the country get their goods from. This place represents the largest roll-on roll-off port inside the entire country.”

— Governor Wes Moore

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Port of Baltimore's rebound from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and its ability to weather the impacts of federal trade policies are seen as important milestones in Maryland's broader economic recovery efforts, underscoring the port's critical role as a major national hub for goods movement.