New Warehouse Opens at Port Birmingham

Years of planning, coordination, and work have come to fruition as Watco’s new 25,000-square-foot warehouse at Port Birmingham in Alabama is officially open for business.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 4, with members of the Birmingham Business Alliance, Birmingham Jefferson County Port Authority, state and local officials, and Watco team members there to support the new venture.

The warehouse was designed with steel industry customers in mind, as a way for them to securely store their product where it can quickly be shipped via several modes of transportation. Watco’s Birmingham Terminal Railway provides easy access to BNSF, CSX, and Norfolk Southern’s rail network. It’s also located within 20 miles of multiple interstate highways and provides barge access via the Black Warrior River.

“We look forward to leveraging our expanded capabilities to enhance service for our partners and the broader industry,” said Cody Gilliland, vice president of sales.

The connectivity and capabilities seamlessly connect local shippers with domestic and international markets. Whether shipping steel products by rail, river, or road, the new warehouse provides a secure hub to facilitate growth.

“This project goes beyond storing steel coils; it’s set to unlock economic potential, strengthen our supply chain, and support thriving local businesses and jobs,” said David Russell, executive director of the Birmingham Jefferson County Port Authority.

“Stay tuned to see what is next because this group is just getting started.”