Port of London slips 10pc overall, but container volume up 2pc in 2012
TRADE through the Port of London in 2012 was down 10 per cent in 2012 to 43.7 million tonnes, but container traffic increased two per cent to 14.8 million tonnes from 2011 mostly because of activity at the Tilbury Docks.
The overall drop was attributed to an oil refinery closure, which resulted in 5.1 million tonnes year on year in port trade lost after the Coryton oil refinery closed in May, according to the Port of London Authority (PLA).
Said PLA chief executive Richard Everitt: "2012 was a tough year for trade on the river. The closure of the Coryton terminal, one of the largest cargo handling facilities on the river, was compounded by limited growth or declines in other cargo, he said.
More than 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities at different locations on the Thames make up the port of London, the UK's second largest port.
"The medium-term prospects for trade on the river, nevertheless, look very strong as the main benefit of having a terminal on the Thames - proximity to the UK's biggest consumer market - continues to attract major investment," said Mr Everitt.
"This year we expect to see Coryton re-open under new owners, the London Gateway container port will open, work will be well under way at the port of Tilbury's London Distribution Centre and Stolt Neilsen will be developing its facility at Dagenham.
"In addition, Crossrail has started to use the river for moving tunnelling spoil and Thames Water is already using the Thames to move materials from the first of its major tunnel construction projects in London," Mr Everitt said.
TRADE through the Port of London in 2012 was down 10 per cent in 2012 to 43.7 million tonnes, but container traffic increased two per cent to 14.8 million tonnes from 2011 mostly because of activity at the Tilbury Docks.
The overall drop was attributed to an oil refinery closure, which resulted in 5.1 million tonnes year on year in port trade lost after the Coryton oil refinery closed in May, according to the Port of London Authority (PLA).
Said PLA chief executive Richard Everitt: "2012 was a tough year for trade on the river. The closure of the Coryton terminal, one of the largest cargo handling facilities on the river, was compounded by limited growth or declines in other cargo, he said.
More than 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities at different locations on the Thames make up the port of London, the UK's second largest port.
"The medium-term prospects for trade on the river, nevertheless, look very strong as the main benefit of having a terminal on the Thames - proximity to the UK's biggest consumer market - continues to attract major investment," said Mr Everitt.
"This year we expect to see Coryton re-open under new owners, the London Gateway container port will open, work will be well under way at the port of Tilbury's London Distribution Centre and Stolt Neilsen will be developing its facility at Dagenham.
"In addition, Crossrail has started to use the river for moving tunnelling spoil and Thames Water is already using the Thames to move materials from the first of its major tunnel construction projects in London," Mr Everitt said.