Throughput Swiss Rhine ports up 1.2% to 6.5 million tonnes in 2010

In 2010, throughput in the Swiss Rhine ports slightly rose with 1.2% to 6.5 million tonnes. Containers were the growth sector with as compared to 2009, +27% to 99,000 TEU, Portofrotterdam reports. 2007 remains the record year with 104,000 TEU. The largest goods categories crude oil end oil products declines 12%, or 380,000 tonnes. Especially light fuel oil was unloaded less. Agricultural prodcucts, food products and animal feed grew slightly form 765,000 tonnes in 2009 to 780,000 tonnes in 2010. The incoming total was constant with 5.5 million tonnes, outgoing cargo declined with a little over 10%, to almost 1 million tonnes.


Incoming growth amounted to 28% (from 35,347 to 45,347 TEU), a litle more than the 25% rise in outgoing units (from 42,938 to 53,701 TEU). In both directions the fourth quarter was relatively weak. A 2011 forecast is difficult to give due to the blocking of the Rhina in the beginnning of the year and the uncertain exchange rate of the Swiss Franc to the Euro and Dollar. In any case containers are concidered a growth sector in the medium and long term. The growth prognosis for the seaports of Rotterdan and Antwerp is favourable as well as the environmental pressure to transport more per inland vessel. Therefore the Swiss Rhine ports and Swiss rail company SBB Cargo joinltly investigate the future capacity of the ship-rail transfer on the Basel North premises adjacent to the present port basin 2 in Kleinhüningen.
(Source:http://en.portnews.ru)