EUROPE's largest inland port of Duisburg in Germany boosted container traffic 10 per cent in the first half with double-digit growth forecast to continue into the second half of 2011 with 1.2 million TEU handled or 15.9 million tons by volume.
It has beat off competition from rival north European container terminals and is predicted to overtake 2010 record of 2.25 million in full year results, said port operator CEO Erich Staake.
Duisburg recession-beating volumes continue from last year of 28 million tonnes, just short of 2008 record of 28.3 million tonnes. It continues to attract interest from Rotterdam and Antwerp for the third share owned by the German state.
The rival port of Antwerp in contrast handled 4.3 per cent more TEU during the six month period while it increased its box volume year on year to 4.4 million TEU, a 51.3 per cent increase. Overall tonnage hit 96 million tonnes from 87 million tonnes in the same period 2010.
Ro-Ro cargo shipments totalled 2.1 million tonnes, a 15.8 per cent increase of which vehicles came in at 526,841 units loaded or unloaded, a 19.1 per cent hike.
Breakbulk cargo which was up 16.9 per cent in the same period driven by steel products which were particularly strong at 4.4 million tonnes, a 48 per cent increase. Fruit was up 3.2 per cent at 0.7 million tonnes, but wood cellulose and paper was down 44.5 per cent to 400,000 million tonnes.
It has beat off competition from rival north European container terminals and is predicted to overtake 2010 record of 2.25 million in full year results, said port operator CEO Erich Staake.
Duisburg recession-beating volumes continue from last year of 28 million tonnes, just short of 2008 record of 28.3 million tonnes. It continues to attract interest from Rotterdam and Antwerp for the third share owned by the German state.
The rival port of Antwerp in contrast handled 4.3 per cent more TEU during the six month period while it increased its box volume year on year to 4.4 million TEU, a 51.3 per cent increase. Overall tonnage hit 96 million tonnes from 87 million tonnes in the same period 2010.
Ro-Ro cargo shipments totalled 2.1 million tonnes, a 15.8 per cent increase of which vehicles came in at 526,841 units loaded or unloaded, a 19.1 per cent hike.
Breakbulk cargo which was up 16.9 per cent in the same period driven by steel products which were particularly strong at 4.4 million tonnes, a 48 per cent increase. Fruit was up 3.2 per cent at 0.7 million tonnes, but wood cellulose and paper was down 44.5 per cent to 400,000 million tonnes.