The Port of Gdansk is announcing it expects to handle more than 48million tonnes of cargo in 2020, retaining its position as one of Europe’s fastest growing ports despite the disruption to global trade caused by the coronavirus crisis.
According to the Port of Gdansk’s press release, it handled 36.2million tonnes in the first three quarters of the year to September and is on course to handle the same amount of cargo it did in 2018 and just under 52.2million tonnes it managed in 2019. The performance means the Port of Gdansk has broken into the top 20 biggest ports in Europe for the first time ahead of Genoa and Dunkirk.
President of Port of Gdansk Lukasz Greinke said the strong tonnage levels are testament to the port’s agile set-up and infrastructure which enables it to transport cargo of all types adapting to changing market conditions. He pointed to imports of ore which have soared by 6344 per cent to September and grain volumes which have spiked by 174pc while other bulk cargos are up by nearly a quarter. He said these three cargo types have picked up the slack of reduced demand for fuel and coal across its hinterland and foreland of 120million people.
“We recognise what a challenging time this has been for all our customers and we have done all we can to keep Poland and our hinterland supplied through-out the coronavirus crisis including with vital medical equipment (see notes to editors 1),” he said. “I must thank all our team and our partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure we have not lost a single day of downtime. We are pleased to see the port maintaining a robust performance which is testament to the investments made to transform the Port of Gdansk into a truly universal port. The spike in ore imports has been dramatic from around 5000 tonnes in 2019 to 330,000 tonnes this year - the highest for 20 years. In terms of fuel we were anticipating a drop in demand with fuel shipments which were inflated in 2019 by the ‘chloride crisis’. This resulted in more fuel being transported by sea after Russian oil imports into Poland were suspended after chloride was found in the pipeline. However, demand for fuel and coal was then even harder hit because of covid. Nevertheless, we are now seeing fuel and coal volumes pick up in quarter four.”
Mr Greinke said the period since September is seeing a significant rebound with cargo volumes up by 15 per cent on the same period last year with increases across virtually all cargo groups.
“Looking at the current levels we forecast that 2021 should see more than 50million tonnes of cargo handled and it is our objective to break 60million tonnes in the next three to five years,” he said.
Mr Grieke said the role of DCT Gdansk, the largest container terminal in Poland, remains crucial to future growth (see background). He said although, as with many ports, there has been a dip in container volume in 2020 DCT Gdansk has retained its position as the second biggest container port on the Baltic.
“Thanks to DCT Gdansk we are the only port on the Baltic capable of receiving direct calls from Asia, including from the biggest ships in the world. We have the fastest and most cost-effective hinterland connectivity across Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus and Scandinavia. Moreover, we have unrestricted sea access through-out the year and we are proving our reliability as a trading partner with major shipping lines in Asia. We have regular calls from Ocean Alliance, 2M as well as offering short sea connections to key trading areas like Scandinavia and the UK with Maersk, MSC, CMA, Cosco and many more.”
Mr Greinke said massive investments in port infrastructure will continue in 2021 addressing specific needs of businesses based at the port.
“We are not slowing down the pace of port investments,” he said. “We will be rebuilding the Bytomskie Quay for the Anwil terminal. The plans will include the reconstruction of the Rudowe III Quay and the extension of the mooring line in the Gorniczy Basin which will enable large mobile handling equipment to move on this quay. We also plan to rebuild the road and rail infrastructure at the back of the Przemysłowe Quay. As part of the planned reconstruction of the road and railway infrastructure at the Przemysłowe Quay, around six km of railway tracks and 1.6 km of roads will be modernized or built.”
Mr Greinke said 2021 will further see plans drawn up to improve road access to the back of the DCT container terminal, with a view to starting construction works pending legal approvals.
“It is worth noting that Cedrob Porty, Poland’s largest producer of meat is planning a big investment of PLN 100 million to create a cold storage centre capable of holding 30,000 pallets around the planned road,” he said. “This shows what our port development strategy is all about. We want to work hand-in-hand with our contractors supporting their business objectives and backing their investments. There are many such projects in the pipeline with businesses operating at the port which is why we are so optimistic about growth in the next five years.”
The Port of Gdansk has been actively involved in various types of actions aimed at combating the coronavirus. It has provided four analyzers for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections, 10 tents that can be used as portable emergency rooms with full equipment, 2,000 helmets and personal protective equipment. In connection with the next wave of diseases, it is also planning further initiatives to support the most needy. The Port has helped front line workers including paramedics from Pomerania, as well older people around Nowy Port and Stogi.
The Port of Gdansk is a major international transportation hub situated in the central part of the southern Baltic coast, which ranks among Europe’s fastest growing regions. According to the strategy of European Union the Port of Gdansk plays a significant role as a key link in the Trans-European Transport Corridor No. 1 connecting the Nordic countries with Southern and Eastern Europe. The Port of Gdansk is comprised of two principal sections with naturally diverse operational parameters: the inner port stretched along the Dead Vistula and the port canal, and the outer port affording direct access to the Gulf of Gdansk. The inner port offers a comprehensive range of terminals and facilities designed to handling containerised cargo, passenger ferries and Ro-Ro vessels, passenger cars and citrus fruit, sulphur, phosphorites and other bulk. The other quays fitted with versatile equipment and infrastructure are universal in use and enable the handling of conventional general as well as bulk cargo such as rolled steel products, oversize and heavy lifts, grain, artificial fertilizers, ore and coal. The outer port performs its operations on piers, quays and cargo handling jetties situated immediately on the waters of the Gulf of Gdansk. This section of the port offers state-of-the-art facilities suited to handling energy raw materials such as liquid fuels, coal and liquefied gas. The outer port also accommodates modern Deepwater Container Terminal.
DCT Gdansk container terminal enables Poland to be connected to the world’s largest shipping trade-lane between Europe and Asia. A vital piece of investment ensuring that Polish goods can trade with Asia more efficiently, reducing cost, providing more competitive delivery times and a lower carbon footprint per container than alternative ports.
DCT does not just serve Poland but is also one of the most efficient ways to serve the Baltic Sea market via transshipment and is also the most cost competitive way to serve the hinterland markets of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus and Western Ukraine.
In 2018 DCT Gdansk handled over 1.9m TEU (20-foot equivalent unit), with direct calls by the largest ships afloat. DCT Gdansk is the only terminal in the Baltic Sea capable of handling ships of this size. DCT Gdansk exceeded 2.0m TEU in 2019.
With a track-record of continuous development and expenditure in terminal infrastructure and modern handling equipment, DCT Gdansk is also actively involved in environmental and local community initiatives, recognizing the role of terminals in sustainable socio-economic development.
DCT was acquired in 2019 by the Singapore based PSA Group, one of the largest port operators in the world with a shareholding by the Polish Government investment arm PFR and Australian investment fund IFM.