Kobe port's box throughput in January flat at 201,822 TEU

CONTAINER throughput at Japan's Port of Kobe increased 0.6 per cent in January year on year to 201,822 TEU, according to the Kobe municipal government.

Within January's total, foreign trade fell 1.7 per cent to 157,337 TEU, while domestic trade increased by 9.8 per cent year on year to 44,485 TEU.

Exports were up 3.5 per cent from a year earlier to 83,551 TEU in January, but imports were down seven per cent at 73,786 TEU, reported IHS Maritime 360.

Cargo volume climbed 6.6 per cent in January to 7.6 million tonnes, with foreign trade up 1.8 per cent against January 2014 to contribute four million tonnes, and the remaining 3.622 million tonnes came from domestic trade, up 12.5 per cent.

In foreign trade, Kobe exported 1.7 million tonnes of cargo, up 8.1 per cent, and imported 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, down 2.5 per cent year on year.