Wind energy boosts Q1 cargo at Port of Galveston

Wind turbine components sit in a freight yard waiting to be moved further inland at the Port of Corpus Christi, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Corpus Christi. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle ) Wind turbine components sit in a freight yard waiting to be moved further inland at the Port of Corpus Christi, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Corpus Christi. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Wind energy boosts Q1 cargo at Port of Galveston 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Wind energy brought significant cargo growth for the Port of Galveston during the first three months of 2019, the port announced Monday.

Cargo related to wind energy increased to 21,355 tons in the first quarter, up from 928 tons for the same period last year.

More: Disney Cruise to sail more frequently from Galveston

"Cargo business is alive and well in Galveston," Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees said in a news release. "We anticipate a substantial increase, especially in wind energy, due to two project agreements in effect until the end of 2019."

Year-over-year for the month of March, the port also saw tonnage increase 2 percent for bananas and fruit, 8 percent for bulk grains and 27 percent for roll-on/roll-off cargo.

And Galveston is expecting 297 cruise ship calls for all of 2019, which is 27 more than last year.