THE Port of Marseilles-Fos has posted a 26 per cent increase in first quarter container volume to 260,000 TEU based on a poor performance last year and only six per cent better than in the first quarter in 2010, say port authorities.

Overall cargo throughput was only up one per cent year on year to 22 million tonnes in the first quarter with boxes leading gains, and general cargo up 23 per cent to 4.2 million tonnes on the back of revitalised container volumes, reported London's International Freighting Weekly, adding that gains were attributed to a "manifest improvement in reliability" following last year's national port reforms.

Ro-ro services contributed 980,000 tonnes, a five per cent increase, resulting from increased trade with Corsica, while conventional cargo was up 27 per cent to 690,000 tonnes rising on increased demand for steel.