PORTAGE, Ind. (April 16, 2025) – Ports of Indiana and Metro Ports have signed a five-year extension of their bulk terminal operating agreement at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The agreement reaffirms both organizations’ commitment to growing bulk cargo operations and providing industry-leading customer service at Indiana’s Lake Michigan port.

Metro Ports is a leading national terminal operator and one of the longest-operating stevedores in the United States. The company has managed bulk cargo handling at Burns Harbor since 2017 and oversees the efficient movement of essential materials – such as coking coal, limestone, iron ore pellets, grains and minerals – via ocean vessels, Great Lakes ships, river barges and railcars.

“Metro Ports has been an outstanding partner at Burns Harbor and their continued leadership will be instrumental as we increase bulk cargo-handling capacity at the port,” said Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana. “Their decision to launch their first Great Lakes operation here in 2017 marked a pivotal moment for bulk-cargo growth at our port. Today, we’re proud to continue building on that success and strengthening Indiana’s role in global supply chains.”

Burns Harbor handles approximately 3 million tons of cargo annually and plays a vital role in the movement of critical commodities supporting the steel, agriculture and construction industries.

“Indiana offers a strong business environment, and we’re very optimistic about the opportunities at Burns Harbor,” said Lee Swietlikowski, President of Metro Ports. “Ports of Indiana is making transformational investments in infrastructure, allowing us to expand capabilities and better serve the industrial and commercial markets across the Midwest. We are proud to be part of this forward-looking partnership.”

Metro Ports’ tenure at Burns Harbor has been defined by development of strong customer relationships, according to Ryan McCoy, Port Director at Burns Harbor.

“Metro Ports operates as an extension of our team,” he said. “Their unwavering commitment to service and innovation has earned the trust of our customers and helped drive substantial growth across multiple commodities.”