Marseilles Fos reports general cargo down 12 percent in Jan-Nov 08

The French port of Marseilles Fos said bulk cargo for the first 11 months of the year rose 2 percent to 89.5 million tons, while general cargo volumes fell 12 percent to 14 million tons. Container traffic bore the brunt of the general cargo slump, with tonnage down 16 percent to 7.7 million tons and units down 15 percent to 774,519 TEUs. East-west trades handled in Fos amounted to 519,518 TEU, down 21 percent, the port said. The Marseilles harbor area handled 255,001 TEUs, down just 2 percent "thanks to the stability of Mediterranean trades.”