Marseilles Fos saw general cargo volumes and container traffic slump in the first half of the year, but overall throughput of 44.6 million tonnes was an exact repeat of its first half 2010 performance, thanks to increased oil and gas traffic, Ifw-net reports.
Container traffic fell 9% to 462,781teu. However, this was in comparison with 18% growth for the first six months last year, said the port.
Ro-ro traffic brought in 2.1 million tonnes, up 1 percentage point, due to strong trading with Corsica, Italy and Tunisia, while dry bulk volumes plunged 25% to 4.7 million tonnes, due to the closure of one of Arcelor’s two foundries since December and a drop in coal demand.
General cargo was down 7% to 7.7 million tonnes.
The port authority noted it was too soon to feel the effects of recent French port reforms.
The reforms entailed the transfer of all the port’s personnel and equipment to privatised terminals, as required under national port reforms.
Cargo handling at the port is now entirely carried out by private or part-private companies. On 3 May, 160 Fos-based personnel were transferred to Eurofos and Seayard at the container terminal, and to Carfos at the ore and grain terminals.
Container traffic fell 9% to 462,781teu. However, this was in comparison with 18% growth for the first six months last year, said the port.
Ro-ro traffic brought in 2.1 million tonnes, up 1 percentage point, due to strong trading with Corsica, Italy and Tunisia, while dry bulk volumes plunged 25% to 4.7 million tonnes, due to the closure of one of Arcelor’s two foundries since December and a drop in coal demand.
General cargo was down 7% to 7.7 million tonnes.
The port authority noted it was too soon to feel the effects of recent French port reforms.
The reforms entailed the transfer of all the port’s personnel and equipment to privatised terminals, as required under national port reforms.
Cargo handling at the port is now entirely carried out by private or part-private companies. On 3 May, 160 Fos-based personnel were transferred to Eurofos and Seayard at the container terminal, and to Carfos at the ore and grain terminals.