Hamburg quarterly volume down 4pc, but uptick expected

AN influx of containers from China through Hamburg should boost the port's volume after figures show a four per cent decrease in containers in its first quarter, say port authorities.

Asia traffic dropped by 2.1 per cent to 1.1 million TEU and European feeder services tied to Asia trade routes of 1.29 per cent against a rise in North American traffic of 9.2 per cent to 182,000 TEU. Overall cargo March figures were the highest since November 2008 when volume hit 10.5 million tons.

Port marketing chief Claudia Roller said the figures do not account for the resumed services in April by Asia carriers which come to a third of the port's container movement.

(Source: www.schednet.com )