ISRAEL's port of Ashdod has achieved first half 2012 net profit of ILS91million (US$23.3 million), an increase of 15 per cent year on year, drawn on revenues of ILS563 million, down 2.4 per cent.
Container movements were up one per cent to 606,000 TEU in the first half, with general cargo volumes down to 13.1 per cent to 979,000 tons.
Compared with the first quarter, the second quarter of 2012 saw growth of 16 per cent in cargo moving through the port. Container movements were up 10 per cent and general cargo increased 45 per cent. For the eight months from January to August, total cargo volume amounted to 13,684,000 tons, up 5.6 per cent year on year.
Over this period total bulk cargo volume was 2,309,000 tons, up 16.6 per cent. During August the port recorded 462,000 tons of bulk cargo, setting a new monthly record.