Port of Norfolk-Newport News, VA rail freight: what lands here and where it goes inland
The largest vessel imports here, year to date through July 2026, are plastics and resin (about $1,731 million), organic chemicals (about $1,316 million), steel articles and pipe (about $1,147 million) among the 22 commodity chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks. The port district is reached by Norfolk Southern and CSX, which is what makes the Norfolk-Newport News gateway useful for shippers whose plants sit hundreds of miles inland. This page pairs the Census import data behind the Commodity Flow Map port layer with the railroads, transload capacity and inland lanes that turn a vessel arrival into a rail move.
Top imports by vessel
Vessel imports at Norfolk-Newport News, VA, year to date through July 2026, US$ millions, for the commodity chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks.
| HS chapter | Commodity group | Vessel imports YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Plastics and resin | $1,731M |
| 29 | Organic chemicals · chemicals by rail | $1,316M |
| 73 | Steel articles and pipe · steel by rail | $1,147M |
| 40 | Rubber | $836M |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard · paper by rail | $494M |
| 76 | Aluminum · steel by rail | $452M |
| Total, tracked chapters | $8,445M | |
Railroads at the port
- Norfolk Southern (NS)
- CSX
Where more than one Class I reaches a port, the routing choice sets the inland rate, the interchange points and which inland terminals are single-line. That is the first question a lane audit answers.
Rail transload and terminal capacity nearby
Rail-served transload facilities within 30 miles of the port, from the Steel Wheel Transload Directory:
- Kinder Morgan Elizabeth River Terminal — Chesapeake, VA (5 mi): port-terminal; dry bulk, vessel-rail transload
- A&R Transport Inc — Chesapeake, VA (7 mi): third-party-warehouse; Blower, Sampling Services, Scale
- Port of Virginia — Newport News Marine Terminal — Newport News, VA (12 mi): port-terminal; breakbulk, warehousing, vessel-rail transload
- A&R Transport Inc — Portsmouth, VA (1 mi): third-party-warehouse; Blower, Sampling Services, Scale
- Arreff Terminals Inc — Portsmouth, VA (1 mi): transload-terminal; Air Compressor, Auger, Bulk Conveyor, Sampling Services
- Continental Terminals — Chesapeake, VA (7 mi): third-party-warehouse; Blending Meters, Sampling Services, Scale
- Lambert's Point Docks Inc. — Norfolk, VA (3 mi)
- Kinder Morgan South Hill Terminal — Chesapeake, VA (4 mi)
Distances are straight-line from the port's Census coordinates. Capabilities are as listed by the operator; confirm before routing.
Typical inland lanes from this port
How the top import groups typically move inland from Norfolk-Newport News. These describe the flow, not a price: run the indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News for a first number.
- Imported resin and polymer moves in covered hoppers and boxcars to compounders and converters across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
- Imported alcohols, solvents and chemical intermediates move in tank cars to chemical, pharmaceutical and coatings plants along the Gulf Coast, the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
- Imported line pipe, tubular goods and fabricated steel moves to pipe yards, fabricators and energy basins in Texas, Oklahoma, the Rockies and the Appalachian shale region. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
- Imported natural rubber and rubber goods move in boxcars to tire plants and manufacturers in the Southeast, Ohio Valley and Midwest. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
- Imported paper and paperboard moves in boxcars to converters, printers and packaging plants in metro markets nationwide. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
- Imported aluminum ingot, billet and coil moves in gondolas and boxcars to extruders, rolling mills and automotive suppliers in the Midwest, Southeast and Texas. Indicative rail rate from Norfolk-Newport News.
Priced lanes from Norfolk-Newport News
Indicative single-car estimates from our rate model for lanes we have already priced out of this port. Not a quote; the serving railroad confirms the rate.
| Destination | Commodity | Rail miles | Indicative rate / car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | Steel | 1,354 | $11,517 |
| Chicago, IL | Plastic pellets | 1,028 | $9,306 |
| Louisville, KY | Chemicals | 790 | $8,505 |
Common questions
Which railroads serve the Port of Norfolk-Newport News?
Norfolk Southern and CSX reach the Norfolk-Newport News, VA port district.
What does the Port of Norfolk-Newport News import the most?
By vessel value, year to date through July 2026, the largest imports at Norfolk-Newport News among the chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks are plastics and resin (about $1,731 million), organic chemicals (about $1,316 million), steel articles and pipe (about $1,147 million). Total tracked vessel imports were about $8,445 million. Source: U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API.
Can I move imported plastics and resin from Norfolk-Newport News inland by rail?
The largest tracked vessel import group at Norfolk-Newport News is plastics and resin (about $1,731 million year to date through July 2026), and the port district is reached by Norfolk Southern and CSX. The Steel Wheel transload directory lists at least 8 rail-served transload facilities within 30 miles of the port. Use the indicative rail rate tool for a first estimate and a lane audit to confirm routing; estimates are indicative until confirmed with the serving railroad.
Moving imports inland from Norfolk-Newport News?
Steel Wheel Logistics is an outsourced rail department: we route, price and manage rail moves from the port to your plant. Rate estimates are indicative only until confirmed with the serving railroad.
See the port on the commodity flow map · Port of Virginia (Offshore Wind Surge) rail hub profile · All ports
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API, general imports by port of entry, vessel value, year to date through July 2026. Steel Wheel Logistics analysis.