The French Port of Marseilles Fos said container throughput rose by 24 percent year-over-year in January and February to 159,202 20-foot equivalent units as trade recovered from the global recession.
Trade with the Far East fueled a 30 percent jump at Fos, which handled 121,218 TEUs, while Marseilles improved 10 percent to 37,985 TEUs thanks to recovering markets in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Container volume in the first two months of the year through February amounted to 1.59 million metric tons (up 31 percent) and led general cargo to a 19 percent improvement to 2.39 million metric tons.
Conventional traffic also contributed with 42 percent growth to 310,000 metric tons as demand for steel products continued to grow, although roll-on, roll-off traffic was down 16 percent at 490,000 metric tons in the aftermath of a slump in trade with Corsica and Sardinia.
The revival in the local steel industry – and imports of raw materials -- nudged dry bulk volume back to normal levels at 1.54 million metric tons (up 41 percent) courtesy of a 40 percent increase in vessel calls.
Liquid bulk volume rose by a third to 530,000 metric tons on the strength of the chemicals industry -- aided by the ever-rising bio-fuels sector, which gained 26 percent to 160,000 metric tons.
Trade with the Far East fueled a 30 percent jump at Fos, which handled 121,218 TEUs, while Marseilles improved 10 percent to 37,985 TEUs thanks to recovering markets in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Container volume in the first two months of the year through February amounted to 1.59 million metric tons (up 31 percent) and led general cargo to a 19 percent improvement to 2.39 million metric tons.
Conventional traffic also contributed with 42 percent growth to 310,000 metric tons as demand for steel products continued to grow, although roll-on, roll-off traffic was down 16 percent at 490,000 metric tons in the aftermath of a slump in trade with Corsica and Sardinia.
The revival in the local steel industry – and imports of raw materials -- nudged dry bulk volume back to normal levels at 1.54 million metric tons (up 41 percent) courtesy of a 40 percent increase in vessel calls.
Liquid bulk volume rose by a third to 530,000 metric tons on the strength of the chemicals industry -- aided by the ever-rising bio-fuels sector, which gained 26 percent to 160,000 metric tons.