Container traffic at Marseilles soared 60 percent in May from a year ago as ocean carriers launched new services. But other cargoes collapsed because of steel mill closings and lower European demand for oil. Overall traffic at France’s biggest port fell 22 percent.
The Mediterranean seaport handled 79,047 20-foot- containers last month, compared with 49,432 TEUs in May 2008, leaving container traffic in the first five months of the year down just 1 percent at 363,762 TEUs.
Marseilles, France's second-largest box port, attributed the gain to new liner services at its Fos-sur-Mer terminal launched by Marseilles-based CMA CGM, Turkon Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Maersk Line.
The surge in box traffic follows monthly losses, largely because of strikes, of more than 20 percent in the first quarter of the year and a 15 percent decline in 2008 traffic to 848,000 TEUs from more than 1 million TEUs in 2007.
Overall traffic fell, however, by 22 percent to 6.96 million metric tons in May from 8.93 million metric tons in May 2008, leaving traffic for the first five months 14 percent lower at 34.6 million metric tons.
Dry bulk shipments plunged 77 percent to 268,000 metric tons from 1.15 million metric tons as the closure of an Acelor-Mittal steel mill in Marseilles and reduced output at a second local plant halted imports of iron ore and coal.
Conventional cargo traffic tumbled 46 percent to 137,000 metric tons, largely the result of a slump in steel exports that left traffic for the first five months 50 percent lower at 579,000 metric tons.
Crude oil, refined products and natural gas shipments fell 18 percent to 5.2 million metric tons in May on refinery shutdowns and lower European oil demand.
The Mediterranean seaport handled 79,047 20-foot- containers last month, compared with 49,432 TEUs in May 2008, leaving container traffic in the first five months of the year down just 1 percent at 363,762 TEUs.
Marseilles, France's second-largest box port, attributed the gain to new liner services at its Fos-sur-Mer terminal launched by Marseilles-based CMA CGM, Turkon Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Maersk Line.
The surge in box traffic follows monthly losses, largely because of strikes, of more than 20 percent in the first quarter of the year and a 15 percent decline in 2008 traffic to 848,000 TEUs from more than 1 million TEUs in 2007.
Overall traffic fell, however, by 22 percent to 6.96 million metric tons in May from 8.93 million metric tons in May 2008, leaving traffic for the first five months 14 percent lower at 34.6 million metric tons.
Dry bulk shipments plunged 77 percent to 268,000 metric tons from 1.15 million metric tons as the closure of an Acelor-Mittal steel mill in Marseilles and reduced output at a second local plant halted imports of iron ore and coal.
Conventional cargo traffic tumbled 46 percent to 137,000 metric tons, largely the result of a slump in steel exports that left traffic for the first five months 50 percent lower at 579,000 metric tons.
Crude oil, refined products and natural gas shipments fell 18 percent to 5.2 million metric tons in May on refinery shutdowns and lower European oil demand.