The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority's excellent first semester performance
The traffic volumes of the newly established Genoa-Savona Port Authority in the 2017 first semester, confirm the annual trend which shows sharp growth and substantial stability in all commodity sectors.
Integration between two ports, boasting diverse vocations and deeply rooted expertise serving the local economy and targeting international markets, strengthens their position as a centre of cargo handling excellence, offering, in a constantly changing scenario, competitive supply chain solutions across Europe.
Although taking into account the substantial differences featuring the total throughput (in absolute terms), by analysing ESPO data showing the performance of leading Northern-European and Mediterranean ports in 2017 first semester, it is important to underline that the Ports of Genoa’s growth rate achieved particularly positive results compared to the same semester in the previous year, also outclassing many European competitors.
Growth rate in cargo throughput (first semester 2017 versus first semester 2016)
| Total traffic | Liquidbulk | Solid bulk | General Cargo | TEU | Growth | Transshipment % on total TEU |
Northern Europe |
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Antwerp | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 3.5% | 1.9% | +96,000 | N.D. |
Rotterdam | 3.9% | -1.0% | 5.2% | 10.4% | 9.3% | +578,000 | 32.5% |
Bremen | -2.4% | -1.6% | 6.3% | -3.5% | -5.0% | -141,000 | N.D. |
Hamburg | -0.2% | -0.7% | 1.8% | -0.9% | -0.2% | -6,920 | 38.5% |
Le Havre | 11.6% | 9.1% | 25.5% | 13.9% | 10.9% | +138,000 | N.D. |
Zeebrugge | -5.7% | -28.5% | 1.1% | -1.4% | -0.4% | -2,800 | - |
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Western Mediterranean |
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AdSP Malo | 9.5% | 3.5% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 12.5% | +145,113 | 13.0% |
Barcelona | 18.6% | 10.9% | -7.1% | 25.2% | 27.3% | +293,000 | 33.8% |
Marseilles* | -3.50% | -9.80% | 1.70% | 10.20% | 4.40% | +13,800 | N.D. |
Source: ESPO statistics, first semester 2017
*first quarter 2017 available
All selected European ports which recorded substantially higher growth rates in container traffic also showed an increase in transhipment activities, in line with large vessels' latest trend aimed to concentrate greater volumes on few and efficient ports consequently enhancing sea freight shipments.
In the current scenario, the Ports of Genoa, which register a lower percentage of transhipment traffic (13%) compared to leading Northern European and Mediterranean ports, have confirmed their leadership as a gateway port to meet domestic trade requirements.
In fact, the Ports of Genoa performed strongly in the domestic market, thus confirming import-export flow recovery (+68,000 TEU), although also registering a significant rise in transhipment (+77,000 TEU),
In the Western Mediterranean area, Barcelona, which has posted a 27.3% container traffic growth rate, recorded a 120% increase in transhipment (+252,000 TEU) compared to 4.7% inland services (+41,000 TEU).
Similar considerations also extend to some ports of the Northern Range, such as Rotterdam and Hamburg, where transhipment flows respectively recorded 70% (392,000 TEU) of the total growth, in the former hub, and offset the negative inland traffic performance in the latter.
Furthermore, the aforementioned integration between Genoa and Savona enabled the ports to achieve positive results even in sectors which have recently been particularly affected by the enduring economic crisis. Dry and liquid bulk have consequently increased by respectively +13% and +3.5%, showing a substantial recovery in some commodity sectors which are affected by the economic performance of specific end-use sectors (construction industry, cement and glass manufacturers, chemical industry) which develop their businesses across the Port of Genoa’s catchment area.
The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority has joined the international maritime transport industry providing new solutions in line with the continuous market development, while also enhancing its competitive position.
