duisport reports again double-digit combined transportation growth

In spite of an economic climate which was particularly difficult in the 4th quarter duisport was able to increase its container throughput to 1 million TEU in 2008. “We owe this growth again largely to the efficiency and the attractiveness of the Port of Duisburg. For years we have been growing faster than the vast majority of European inland and sea ports,” said Duisburger Hafen AG’s Chief Executive Officer Erich Staake. The double-digit expansion of combined transportation shipments nearly made up for the decline of business in the coal and steel segments of the transportation market. Total 2008 port throughput of 54.5 million metric tons was almost at the 2007 level of 55.1 million tons. The extra volume moved during the first nine months of 2008 was lost again in the wake of the sharp Q4 downturn. “The current extremely difficult environment will cause cargo transfers to decline in 2009,” commented Erich Staake.

In the ports of the duisport Group income-generating ship and railroad cargo transfers of 28.3 million tons in 2008 almost reached the 2007 level of 28.6 million tons. Ship transfers of 15.4 million tons missed the 2007 cargo volume by 3 percent, while railroads advanced again and moved forward by 3 percent to 12.9 million tons.

General cargo accounted for 53 percent of all barge and train shipments in 2008. It added up to 15 million tons, 3 percent down on 2007. Iron and steel shipments declined, while containers beat the 1 million TEU mark for the first time and outperformed 2007 by 12 percent.

In the bulk cargo segment, coal dropped by 8 percent, while chemicals/petroleum products increased by over 8 percent.

Railroad container transfers up by 22 percent

Containers remained the most important cargo for ships and trains in 2008. They totaled 9.6 million tons, up by 11 percent, and required over 2 million container moves. While inland barge and short sea shipping throughput decreased slightly, railroad container transfers soared by 22 percent. 25 railroad operators in Duisburg serve over 80 European destinations and manage more than 350 departures per week. Remarked Staake: „During the last seven years we have seen double-digit combined road/rail transportation growth each year. This trend will be broken for the first time in 2009. We are confident, though, that we will do better than the market average this year.”

Source: Transportweekly