Antwerp, Marseilles overall cargo off in first half, but boxes hold steady

OVERALL cargo volumes fell in Belgium's Port of Antwerp, falling two per cent while France's southern port of Marseille-Fos dropped four per cent decline respectively but container throughput was less troubling.

Fos container traffic turned the corner year on year, increasing 14 per cent to 520,000 TEU with growth up most for the Americas at 58 per cent followed by Asia's 18 per cent increase and a Mediterranean uptick of 8.6 per cent. The French port saw uplift of 12 per cent in general cargo to 8.6 million tonnes.

The Belgium port achieved robust growth in its ro-ro and dry bulk sector of 16 per cent and five per cent respectively with liquid bulk showing a bounce back off the reopening of Belgium Refining Corporation (BRC) following a steep decline of 57.6 per cent during closure, said a port spokesman.

Lower volumes of steel created a decline in breakbulk down 16.5 per cent to 5.38 million tonnes of freight.

Overall Antwerp experienced a drop of five per cent in vessel calls to 7,361 during the first half of 2012.