Europe's container growth to be moderate

Import and export container trade in Europe will show moderate but consistent increases from seven to 10 per cent in the first three quarters of 2011, according to the Hackett Associates' Global Port Tracker report.


Europe imports are forecast to lead at 23.05 million TEU, exports at 16.63 million TEU, a 8.6 per cent and 6.9 per cent increase over the previous year when imports rose 14.4 per cent and exports were up 15.5.


The six North Europe ports of Le Havre, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, Bremen/Bremerhaven and Hamburg detailed tracking of inbound and outbound containers volumes produced two quarterly forecasts of imports rising 7.7 per cent with exports up 4.1 per cent.


Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said that despite a weaker start to the year March is forecast to reach nearly 15 per cent growth month on month, and fourth quarter projected to reach double-digit in export growth.


Despite this, he cautioned that austerity packages are a problem, adding that "the continuing weakness of some of the southern members of the EU and the threat of rising inflation are good reasons to worry about the economy and its ability to grow rapidly out of the recession."
(Source:http://www.transportweekly.com)