Southampton container terminal reportedly down 10pc in 2008

CONTAINER volumes at Southampton docks have fallen 10 per cent thanks to the global downturn, reports The Daily Echo, adding that the recent collapse of major UK retailers add to the woes of the port, just renamed Dubai Ports World Southampton.

"Container business is down 10 per cent in 2008 compared with 2007 and all the forecasts are that there will be a further decrease in volumes from Asia to Europe in 2009. It is not a pretty picture," said a senior port official, who did not want to be identified. DP World declined official comment.

Although the container terminal operator DP World does not release figures for its Southampton, port insiders have revealed a steep drop - 200,000 TEU, bringing an end to years of continuous growth of Britain's second biggest container port.

Responsible for 50 per cent of the UK's trade with the Far East, Southampton has been hard hit by the slowdown in global trade, with the trade between Asia and Europe estimated to be at a 15-year low by Drewry's ship consultancy in London.

The shrinking business is also likely to be a blow to expansion plans, which involves an increase of 10 acres of land previously used as a ro-ro yard, that would create a new berth capable of handling mega ships to increase capacity to 3.7 million TEU from the current capacity of 1.8 million TEU.

Source: Transportweekly