North Europe container volume posts double-digit growth in 2007
Rotterdam is the first port in Europe to pass the 10-million-TEU a year mark, port authorities claim.
In a year of double-digit growth at major North European ports, busiest harbour - Rotterdam - increased volume 12 per cent over the previous year to hit 10.8 million TEU in 2007.
Total cargo increased 6.4 per cent against 2006 to hit 406 million tonnes with imports registering a four per cent hike to reach 300 million tonnes while exports rose 14 per cent to 107 million tonnes.
Port of Rotterdam CEO Hans Smits forecast that cargo throughput in 2008 will increase by four per cent to at least 420 million tonnes with container traffic achieving a 10 per cent rise.
Rotterdam's rivals also reported impressive growth in 2007, with Antwerp's container volume up 16 per cent year on year to eight million TEU. Port authorities estimate that Antwerp will have handled 181.5 million tonnes of freight in 2007, up eight per cent over 2006.
Le Havre has provisionally reported global growth of 6.6 per cent with tonnage for 2007 rising to 79.4 million tonnes. Its container traffic was said to have recorded 25.3 per cent growth against 2006 to swell to 2.6 million TEU.
Hamburg's has no full numbers yet for 2007, but in the first six months the port handled 4.8 million TEU, an increase of 14 per cent compared to the first half of 2006, thus putting it on track to exceed 2006's total of 8.86 million TEU, reports UK Transport Intelligence.
In a year of double-digit growth at major North European ports, busiest harbour - Rotterdam - increased volume 12 per cent over the previous year to hit 10.8 million TEU in 2007.
Total cargo increased 6.4 per cent against 2006 to hit 406 million tonnes with imports registering a four per cent hike to reach 300 million tonnes while exports rose 14 per cent to 107 million tonnes.
Port of Rotterdam CEO Hans Smits forecast that cargo throughput in 2008 will increase by four per cent to at least 420 million tonnes with container traffic achieving a 10 per cent rise.
Rotterdam's rivals also reported impressive growth in 2007, with Antwerp's container volume up 16 per cent year on year to eight million TEU. Port authorities estimate that Antwerp will have handled 181.5 million tonnes of freight in 2007, up eight per cent over 2006.
Le Havre has provisionally reported global growth of 6.6 per cent with tonnage for 2007 rising to 79.4 million tonnes. Its container traffic was said to have recorded 25.3 per cent growth against 2006 to swell to 2.6 million TEU.
Hamburg's has no full numbers yet for 2007, but in the first six months the port handled 4.8 million TEU, an increase of 14 per cent compared to the first half of 2006, thus putting it on track to exceed 2006's total of 8.86 million TEU, reports UK Transport Intelligence.