THE Port of Hamburg has achieved cargo volume growth of 2.7 per cent in the first half of 2012 to total 65.8 million tons.
Container throughput was up 1.9 per cent year on year to 4.4 million TEU, considered modest growth resulting from the high number of empty containers. Exports accounted for 28.4 million tons of total cargo, up 6.4 per cent year on year.
Import volumes remained flat, experiencing only 0.1 per cent growth to total 37.5 million tons.
Other contributing factors to the weaker growth rates compared to the 2011 first half were the unusually strong growth at the time, on-going sovereign debt crisis in Europe, and slowing trade with China affecting both general and bulk cargo.
The port's container trade with Asia was down six per cent in the first half to 2.4 million TEU on the back of declining demand in Europe. Port officials said they assume the slowing trade with Asia is primarily due to capacity reductions and the withdrawal of liner services since the beginning of the year.
At 46 million tons, the port's first half general cargo throughput was up three per cent, while bulk goods were up 2.2 per cent at 19.8 million tons.
"It is not yet possible to predict how far the current economic situation will have an effect on our port. However, I assume that the main part of German imports and exports will still be handled by the German seaports," said Frank Horch, Hamburg's Senator for Economics, Traffic and Innovation.
According to the CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, Claudia Roller, by the end of this year total cargo throughput will be around 135 to 136 million tons, representing an increase of between two and three per cent. "For the year 2012 as a whole, container throughput will bring us growth of between one and two per cent," she said.
PORTS
06 September 2012 - 21:49
Export growth drives first half cargo throughput in Port of Hamburg
THE Port of Hamburg has achieved cargo volume growth of 2.7 per cent in the first half of 2012 to total 65.8 million tons. Container throughput was up 1.9 per cent year on year to 4.4 million TEU, considered modest growth resulting from the high number of empty containers. Exports accounted for 28.4 million tons of total cargo, up 6.4 per cent year on year.
PORTS
06 September 2012 - 21:49
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