Marseilles box volume up 4pc in 2009, but all cargo falls 13pc

FRENCH cargo port Marseilles Fos has announced that container throughput grew by four per cent in 2009 to 882,580 TEU compared to the previous year.

On the other hand, total cargo volume fell by 13.3 per cent last year to 83 million tonnes, compared with 96 million tonnes in 2008.

"The overall downturn in cargo reflected the impact of the global downturn. Marseilles Fos was also hit hard by a five-month shutdown of the South European oil pipeline, new import restrictions in key market Algeria and strikes, including stoppages over French port reform legislation," a statement from port authorities said.

The four per cent increase in containerised cargo throughput raised box tonnage to 8.68 million tonnes, an increase of three per cent year on year. However, the growth was restricted to the deep sea Fos terminal, where throughput rose by 22 per cent last year to 693,712 TEU - close to the record 716,000 TEU of 2007. The performance was led by 30 per cent growth in Far East volumes, which included a 40 per cent rise in China trades.

Highlights of the year include eight new container shipping services, the near completion of the port's share of constructing the Fos 2XL container facility and progress on tender calls regarding the Fos 4XL box terminal, which is planned as a public-private development.

"Following a call for tenders in 2008, a bid relating to 4XL was considered to be feasible and is now under further study by the port. A decision is expected in the first half of this year. However, responses regarding (the proposed container terminal) 3XL fell short of the port's requirements, so the tender call will be re-launched when the economy improves," the port authorities said.

Fos also added MSC container operations to the eastern Mediterranean as well as MSC container services to Algeria and one to Morocco from new customer Emes-Arkas, while Marseilles gained a CMA CGM box service to Morocco.

The release said that 2009's turnover decreased by eight per cent compared to the previous year to EUR172 million (US$240.1 million), however, investment in facilities neared the EUR130 million mark for only the second time in the port's history.

Capital expenditure on container and logistics facilities totalled EUR76 million in 2009. More than 80 per cent of this sum, or EUR62 million, was dedicated to the Fos 2XL container project, where construction of the quay was completed and work on road and rail access is now in its final stages.

The port authority said it also made significant progress on the reform requirements during 2009, notably with preparations for the transfer of container and dry bulk cargo handling to private operators.

(Source: www.schednet.com)