The Singapore-based shipping company that brings rubber to North Carolina for Goodyear wants a 30 percent cut in the fees it pays to the port at Morehead City, according to the N&O, :


PACC Lines ships rubber from Asia to Morehead City, which handles more rubber imports than any other U.S. port except New Orleans. The rubber goes to tire makers including Michelin and Bridgestone in North Carolina and neighboring states.

But Goodyear is PACC’s biggest single customer served out of Morehead City, accounting for about half the volume of rubber that goes through there.


If half the firm’s rubber goes to Goodyear and Morehead City is the second largest rubber port in the country, the state seems to be in a good negotiating position, but then we’re an easy mark.