CONTAINER throughput at the Port of Beirut in the first seven months of the year reached 610,751 TEU, an increase of 4.3 per cent from 585,859 TEU handled in the same period in 2011.
Revenues reached US$100.52 million up to the end of July, an increase of 8.7 per cent over last year's revenues of $92.49 million, marking the best cumulative figure recorded in the past five years, The Daily Star of Lebanon reported.
Shipping at the port saw an increase in both its components: trade for the local market increased by 6.5 per cent to 362,432 TEU, while transshipment activity increased by 1.2 per cent to 248,319 TEU. There was also an increase for imported and exported merchandise, which were up 9.2 per cent to 4.1 million tonnes, hitting a five-year monthly high in July at 635,000 tonnes.
Demand for cars also picked up this year after the 2011 slowdown. Total imported cars during the first seven months tallied 48,272 compared to 38,425 last year, but still less than the 2009 and 2010 levels. The number of docked vessels fell 3.9 per cent.