Tanger Med Port's throughput rises 70pc in 2010

MOROCCO's Tangier Med Port handled 2.06 million TEU in 2010, representing an increase of more than 70 per cent compared to the previous year.


London's Containerisation International attributed the surge to "the continual build-up of the port's two terminals and its growing popularity among ocean carriers to use its facilities as a drop-off/pick-up point for West Africa."


It said Maersk Line, CMA CGM, including group company Delmas, and Mitsui OSK Lines, all routed more cargo through the port last year than in 2009, with Maersk Lines switching a number of its services from the Spanish Port of Algeciras to Tanger Med because the latter offered comparatively lower operating costs. The report said this was a main factor behind the facility operated by APM Terminal at the port handling an estimated 1.4 million TEU out of the total throughput for 2010.


Eurogate operates the port's other terminal whose shareholders are Comanav, CMA CGM and MSC. It saw its throughput rise 56 per cent year on year to more than 680,000 TEU.


According to figures provided Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA), local gateway cargo was up by 18 per cent compared to a year earlier to 54,397 TEU, the report added.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)