THE port city of Cartagena in South America's Caribbean coast has reported an increased cargo volume of 6.5 per cent in 2020 and surpassing the 3 million TEU barrier to handle 3.13 million TEU.
The port's commercial director Giovanni Benedetti told Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News: 'It was the first time that we pass the mark of 3 million TEU. Last year, the terminal positioned itself as an important transshipment hub for the Caribbean area moving 2.3 million TEU, growing 7.7 per cent in transshipment volume.'
Although figures show growth in volume, revenues fell slightly 'because imports that decreased 9.5 per cent, is financially more important for us as it brings storage fees,' he added.
Exports grew by 4.4 per cent boosted by a rise in dried and reefer products, the latter increasing by 56.6 per cent.
Cartagena added 800 plugs to a total of 4,000 plugs making the Colombian port the largest reefer terminal in the Americas. Avocados to Europe and the Mediterranean, and bananas are the main agricultural products. Some 60 boxes of bananas a week were exported to Korea in 2020.
'We are careful on making plans for expansion - a few years ago, Cartagena invested US$500 million to increase capacity - but we will add six hectares of container yard. We entered in green technology installing 6,000 solar panels on our warehouses' roofs that bring 3.5MW of cheaper energy,' said Mr Benedetti.
The nearby port of Barranquilla also registered an increase of cargo in 2020 to 1.42 million TEU, up from 1.2m TEU the year before.
SeaNews Turkey
The port's commercial director Giovanni Benedetti told Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News: 'It was the first time that we pass the mark of 3 million TEU. Last year, the terminal positioned itself as an important transshipment hub for the Caribbean area moving 2.3 million TEU, growing 7.7 per cent in transshipment volume.'
Although figures show growth in volume, revenues fell slightly 'because imports that decreased 9.5 per cent, is financially more important for us as it brings storage fees,' he added.
Exports grew by 4.4 per cent boosted by a rise in dried and reefer products, the latter increasing by 56.6 per cent.
Cartagena added 800 plugs to a total of 4,000 plugs making the Colombian port the largest reefer terminal in the Americas. Avocados to Europe and the Mediterranean, and bananas are the main agricultural products. Some 60 boxes of bananas a week were exported to Korea in 2020.
'We are careful on making plans for expansion - a few years ago, Cartagena invested US$500 million to increase capacity - but we will add six hectares of container yard. We entered in green technology installing 6,000 solar panels on our warehouses' roofs that bring 3.5MW of cheaper energy,' said Mr Benedetti.
The nearby port of Barranquilla also registered an increase of cargo in 2020 to 1.42 million TEU, up from 1.2m TEU the year before.
SeaNews Turkey