Transportation and Logistics Market in Portland, OR

The ports alone carry more than 13 million tons of cargo a year, and the port is home to one of the largest dry commercial ports in the country. The Port of Portland is the third largest export port on the west coast of the U.S., and about 130 miles [130 km] above the river, it is the largest freshwater port.

The history of the steel industry in Portland preceded World War II. In the 1950's, the steel industry became the city's first rental industry. The steel industry is booming in the region, with Schnitzer Steel Industries, a leading steel company, exporting 1.15 billion discarded steel records to Asia in 2003. Other heavy industry companies include ESCO Corporation and Oregon Steel Mills.

Technology is a major factor in the city's economy, with more than 1,200 technology companies located within the metropolitan area. This high density of technology companies has led to the use of the Silicon Forest nickname to describe the Portland area, which is a reference to the abundance of trees in the region and the Silicon Valley region of Northern California. The site also has facilities for software companies and online startup companies, some of which are supported by local seed-based organizations and business affiliates. Intel computer manufacturer is the largest employer in the Portland area, providing jobs for more than 15,000 people, with several campuses west of Portland in the city of Hillsboro.