THE Eurogate Group's throughput from its container terminals across Europe increased 7.3 per cent in 2013 year on year to 14.2 million TEU.
Growth was attributed to Italian Mediterranean terminals, especially in its transshipment terminals at Gioia Tauro, which increased 13 per cent and Cagliari, up 12 per cent.
The two Atlantic terminals in Tangier posted 84 per cent volume increase after surpassing the one million TEU mark for the first time. Lisbon volume was up 16 per cent, a company statement said.
A report from IAA PortNews, St Petersburg, said the difficult market and industry environment is reflected in the volumes handled by Eurogate's German terminals.
While the Eurogate container terminal in Hamburg increased handling volumes by eight per cent to two million TEU, the Bremerhaven location fell short of expectations with a five per cent decrease compared to 2012.
Deep-water Wilhelmshaven, whose terminal went into operation at the end of 2012, had a throughput of 76,000 TEU attributed to start up troubles.
Said Eurogate chairman Thomas Eckelmann: "The very positive result for the Eurogate Group as a whole should not blind us to the fact that the market for container transport is currently undergoing a sea change.
"This market has changed profoundly over the past five years. Shipping lines put their faith in just a few major consortiums, which implies both opportunities and risks for the seaports. The individual terminals are facing strong competition," he said.
"We see more opportunities than risks, especially since the world's three biggest shipping groups, Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM (P3), have a stake in varying constellations in some of our most strategically important terminals," Mr Eckelmann said.