THE ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp are leading a North European box revival as rival ports find it hard to cope with larger than expected cargo flows in the first six months of the year.
Global Port Tracker's North Europe Trade Outlook has identified a trend it says is likely to continue, predicting a seven per cent increase in imports this year compared to 2013, coupled with a 3.8 per cent rise in exports.
In 2013 there was 2.2 per cent import growth and 1.6 per cent for exports so the 2014 spike will be welcomed by carriers trying to make August general rate increases stick, says London's Loadstar.
Surveying Le Havre, Zeebrugge, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Hamburg, Port Tracker projected 21.7 million TEU inbound, including empties and transshipment cargo this year with exports rising to 20.5 million TEU.
Said Port Tracker's Ben Hackett: "We are seeing good demand coming from Asia and North America. This is underpinned by rising consumer demand boosted in confidence in the UK and Germany to levels not seen since 2008."
Port Trackers July edition reports that the actual volume of imports in May at the six ports increased 2.1 per cent over the previous month to 3.5 million TEU and 6.5 per cent higher than in May 2013
Hamburg posted a 3.9 per cent year-on-year increase in imports in May while Rotterdam was up 10.4 per cent and Antwerp reported a rise of 11.4 per cent. Little Zeebrugge logged a 17.3 per cent hike in imports.
But Le Havre imports were down 8.3 per cent, compared to May of last year - dragged down by the under performing French economy - and also depressed were the facilities Bremerhaven which saw 5.3 per cent fewer imports.
Said co-author Sonke Maatsch, of the Bremen-based Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics: "Interport competition remains an issue, with Rotterdam and Antwerp fighting to regain their market shares."
Of mega-carrier influence, Dr Maatsch said: "Part of the shift in market share is due to carrier port call decisions, something that is very evident in Antwerp where growth has been exponential."
Nevertheless, Rotterdam and Antwerp have suffered congestion in recent months prompting barge and feeder operators to impose surcharges. But despite bottlenecks at container terminals, Port Tracker "remains optimistic" for trade expansion in North Europe into the first half of 2015.
PORTS
05 August 2014 - 07:25
Port Tracker sees Rotterdam, Antwerp leading North European box revival
THE ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp are leading a North European box revival as rival ports find it hard to cope with larger than expected cargo flows in the first six months of the year.
PORTS
05 August 2014 - 07:25
Port Tracker sees Rotterdam, Antwerp leading North European box revival
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