Marseilles Fos' 27pc container January increase 'signals recovery'

MARSEILLES FOS has posted a 27 per cent increase in container volume to 84,029 TEU in January year on year as well as a 10 per cent rise in general cargo (including containers) to 7.2 million tonnes, suggesting signs of global recovery, said the port authority statement.

Ro-ro volumes fell 11 per cent to 250,000 tonnes after a 41 per cent slump in exports from Corsica and Sardinia, but conventional traffic improved by a third to 0.16 million tonnes due to revived demand for steel products, said the port statement.

Oil and gas volumes added six per cent to 4.93 million tonnes thanks to refined products, where a 57 per cent increase in imports boosted the total by 35 per cent to 1.5 million tonnes. Crude imports fell two per cent to 2.87 million tonnes because the South European Pipeline - down 18 per cent to 870,000 tonnes - was out of action until mid-January after being fractured last August. LNG was down 14 per cent to 360,000 tonnes while LPG fell six per cent to 190,000 tonnes.

Other liquid bulks rose 42 per cent to 270,000 tonnes due to chemicals industry demand and the continued rise in biofuels, which went up 58 per cent to almost 100,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, after last year's slump in demand for raw materials, a 49 per cent increase in steel industry activity helped dry bulks improve eight per cent to 730,000 tonnes.

Source: www.schednet.com