Duisburg, the world’s largest inland port, boosted first half 2011 container traffic by 10 percent from a year ago, outpacing growth at the top north European box hubs, Journal of Commerce reports.The German port handled 1.2 million 20-foot equivalent units in the first six months of 2011 and increased total cargo volume by 20 percent to 15.9 million tons.
Full year container traffic will overtake last year’s record 2.25 million as current growth rates continue into the second half, said Erich Staake, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG, the port operating company.
Duisburg’s double-digit container growth is comparable with a 4.3 percent first half year increase in container handling in Antwerp, Europe’s third largest box hub, to 4.4 million TEUs.
The port, which is located at the heart of the Ruhr industrial belt, expects total cargo to post double-digit growth in 2011 even if, as expected, growth slows in the second half.
Traffic totaled nearly 28 million metric tons in 2010, just short of the record 28.3 million tons handled in 2008.
The German government plans to sell its stake in Duisburg, attracting interest from Rotterdam and Antwerp as well as Hamburg.
The other shareholders are the city of Duisburg and the state of North Rhine Westphalia.
Full year container traffic will overtake last year’s record 2.25 million as current growth rates continue into the second half, said Erich Staake, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG, the port operating company.
Duisburg’s double-digit container growth is comparable with a 4.3 percent first half year increase in container handling in Antwerp, Europe’s third largest box hub, to 4.4 million TEUs.
The port, which is located at the heart of the Ruhr industrial belt, expects total cargo to post double-digit growth in 2011 even if, as expected, growth slows in the second half.
Traffic totaled nearly 28 million metric tons in 2010, just short of the record 28.3 million tons handled in 2008.
The German government plans to sell its stake in Duisburg, attracting interest from Rotterdam and Antwerp as well as Hamburg.
The other shareholders are the city of Duisburg and the state of North Rhine Westphalia.