GERMANY's Hamburg Hafen Und Logistik (HHLA), Hamburg's big port operator, posted a 3.2 per cent pre-tax profit increase to EUR73.3 million (US$91.1 million), drawn on revenues of EUR906.7 million, up six per cent.
While the news was good, HHLA said Russian economic problems and the Ukraine situation took their toll on volumes.
The company said the revenues had outpaced volumes because of efficiencies, cost cutting and new ways of coping with peak loads as well as more high-revenue and high-profit overseas traffic. Double-digit intermodal growth was also recorded.
Overall container volumes in the first nine months at its terminals in Hamburg and Odessa increased by 0.3 per cent to 5.7 million TEU, with Odessa declining nearly 30 per cent.
Volume at HHLA's three Hamburg terminals grew 1.8 per cent but feeder throughput fell five per cent because of declines to Russia.
Deepsea volumes from Asia increased around 8.5 per cent year on year. The terminal operator also acknowledged the congestion problems in August. "Delayed ships led to peak loads at the terminals and drove up costs," it said.
"The new mega-ship berth at the Container Terminal Burchardkai helped the company cope better with the ever-increasing throughput volumes per ship.
"It was put into operation in August and features five of the world's most modern tandem gantry cranes.
"Together with numerous steps to optimise processes at all container terminals, this further enhanced the capacity and quality of HHLA's mega-ship handling."
Last week the German port announced the introduction of an independent body to centralise the operational co-ordination of ultra large containership calls in response to the influx of larger vessels.
The 1.8 per cent growth at the HHLA terminals in Hamburg compares with growth of 4.2 per cent at Europe's number one box port, Rotterdam, during the first three quarters.
Antwerp reported a five per cent year-on-year increase in container volumes during the nine month period to 6.7 million TEU.
PORTS
16 November 2014 - 23:59
HHLA Hamburg volumes flatten, fewer feeders call, Russian woes cited
GERMANY's Hamburg Hafen Und Logistik (HHLA), Hamburg's big port operator, posted a 3.2 per cent pre-tax profit increase to EUR73.3 million (US$91.1 million), drawn on revenues of EUR906.7 million, up six per cent.
PORTS
16 November 2014 - 23:59
HHLA Hamburg volumes flatten, fewer feeders call, Russian woes cited
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