CONTAINER traffic in South Korean ports hit record highs of 22.5 million TEU in 2012, with Busan, its largest port and fifth-ranked globally, lifting 17 million TEU, boosted by a 9.5 per cent increase in transshipment volumes to 8.5 million TEU.
Transshipments increased of 9.5 per cent at 8.5 million TEU while import and export cargo was up 1.9 per cent to 13.7 million TEU, according to state data.
Coastal cargo dropped drastically by 19.8 per cent to 384,000 TEU, down to economic recession at home and following 2011's growth in this area due to government subsidies shifting transport from road to short sea shipping and the expansion of feeder routes.
The figures may have been skewed by revitalisation of port at Kwangyang driving hinterland traffic to increase throughput to 2.1 million TEU, a 2.8 per cent increase.
Transshipments in Busan port increased to almost half its total volumes at 8.1 million TEU, a 10.2 per cent year-on-year gain, said the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM).Incheon experienced a slight decline in container throughput at 1.4 per cent to below two million TEU attributed to a slowdown in trade with China.
Transshipments increased of 9.5 per cent at 8.5 million TEU while import and export cargo was up 1.9 per cent to 13.7 million TEU, according to state data.
Coastal cargo dropped drastically by 19.8 per cent to 384,000 TEU, down to economic recession at home and following 2011's growth in this area due to government subsidies shifting transport from road to short sea shipping and the expansion of feeder routes.
The figures may have been skewed by revitalisation of port at Kwangyang driving hinterland traffic to increase throughput to 2.1 million TEU, a 2.8 per cent increase.
Transshipments in Busan port increased to almost half its total volumes at 8.1 million TEU, a 10.2 per cent year-on-year gain, said the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM).Incheon experienced a slight decline in container throughput at 1.4 per cent to below two million TEU attributed to a slowdown in trade with China.