The Port of Pascagoula handled 829,737 tons of cargo in 2008, up nearly 27 percent from 654,284 tons in 2007.

Port officials say frozen poultry, forest products and components associated with local construction significantly boosted tonnage in 2008.

The port moved 344,198 tons of frozen chicken in 2008, a nearly 37 percent increase over 2007. Mainly an export cargo, the poultry products were sent to areas such as Ukraine and Cuba, with the bulk going to Russia.

Forest products — including lumber, plywood, poles, linerboard and wood pulp — increased 2 percent, to 339,557 tons in 2008, the data show. Forest products also are mostly an export cargo.

The most active import was construction-related cargo.