Manufacturing and Transportation

Manufacturing includes food-processing, petroleum refining, the building of ships and boats, and the making of chemicals, aluminum, clothing, wood and paper products, and construction materials.

The port of New Orleans, outlet of the Mississippi Valley, has been a major port since the 19th century. It ranks among the leading ports of the world; in the United States, it is second only to the Port of New York and New Jersey. Exports account for most of the international trade and include petroleum products, chemicals, iron and steel goods, rice, cotton, sulfur, and lumber. Imports are mainly crude petroleum, sugar, bananas, coffee, and bauxite. Port facilities extend along the Mississippi River and along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, which links the river and Lake Pontchartrain. There are also port facilities along the Mis-sissippi River-Gulf Outlet, a ship canal to the gulf. Much barge traffic moves through New Orleans via the Intracoastal Waterway.

A number of railways serve New Orleans, particularly the port. West of the city is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Moisant Field). Primary highways include Interstate 10. There are bridge and ferry crossings on the Mississippi River; Lake Pontchartrain is crossed by bridges at its east end and by the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which is almost 24 miles (39 km) long.