Another record year for North Sea Port
(Posted on 08/01/20)
North Sea Port has posted a record year for the third year in a row. The firms based in the port transhipped 71.4 million tonnes of seaborne cargo, an increase of 1.5%. The growth is mainly due to dry bulk and containers.Moreover, the figure of 71.4 million tonnes means North Sea Port has broken the 70 million tonne barrier for the second time. The rise is primarily down to a growth in exports for the third consecutive year (+9.9%). Two years after its launch as a merged port, North Sea Port is maintaining its position as a true bulk gateway and is also making progress as a hub for containers between maritime and inland waterways.
Almost half of the goods that North Sea Port tranships to and from maritime shipping is dry bulk. That volume rose to 34.6 million tonnes last year (+5.4%). Over two years, this segment is up 10%. A strong construction sector again meant increased transhipment of sand, gravel and construction materials in 2019. Coal transhipment - especially for processing industries - and agricultural products remained steady. Scrap and ores showed a small decline.
The transhipment of conventional break bulk cargo totalled 11 million tonnes (-6.6%). Part of this decrease is attributable to fruit because this is increasingly being transported in containers. However, the transhipment of machines is on an upward trend.
With very strong growth of 48.7%, container transhipment via maritime shipping amounted to a total of 2.5 million tonnes and 330,000 TEU. The transhipment of wet bulk fell slightly to 20.1 million tonnes (-2.2%). This decrease was mainly evident in the (petro)chemical sectors, largely due to a maintenance shutdown. However, a sharp increase (+42%) was recorded in the transhipment of biodiesel and vegetable oil.
The record-breaking was not confined to transhipment via maritime shipping – inland navigation also set a new record, with an increase from 58 million to 60 million tonnes (+3.4%).With transhipment of 71.4 million tonnes via maritime shipping and 60 million tonnes via inland navigation, North Sea Port achieved a total of 131.4 million tonnes transhipped in 2019 (+2.1%). And that isn’t counting a further 15 to 16 million tonnes of transhipment via pipelines.
North Sea Port focuses on both European coastal shipping (short sea shipping) and transatlantic freight traffic. The share of short sea shipping within total freight transhipment via maritime services remained at 63%. As in previous years, goods traffic with Europe and North and South America accounted for more than 90% of total cargo transhipped last year (93.5%).
With a record year behind it and rising freight transhipment in dry bulk and containers, North Sea Port is cautiously optimistic for 2020, as it was in early 2019. A continuation of the current trend of light growth is anticipated. Brexit, shrinking economic growth and (anticipated) trade wars provide reasons for caution.
Latest News
Dry bulk stable as Antwerp-Bruges grows in first half of 2024
(Posted on 22/07/24)The total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 143.2 million tonnes in the first six months of this... Read more
PD Ports aiming to be the UK’s most sustainable port
(Posted on 22/07/24)PD Ports has a publicly stated aim to be the UK’s most sustainable port company, with a commitment... Read more
Cargo transhipment in North Sea Port remains stable
(Posted on 16/07/24)Over the first six months of this year, the companies in North Sea Port recorded a volume of 33.4 million... Read more
Rotterdam to support redevelopment of Curaçao industrial zone
(Posted on 12/07/24)Port of Rotterdam Authority will contribute to the redevelopment of the lands owned by the state-owned... Read more
ABP boosts marine capability through pilot launch upgrades
(Posted on 12/07/24)Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest and leading ports operator, has announced an... Read more
ABP Humber welcomes Laura Wood as new Head of Commercial
(Posted on 04/07/24)As Head of Commercial, Laura will head up the team responsible for Associated British Port’s wide... Read more
Cooperation on multiple port projects in Bangladesh
(Posted on 28/06/24)Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s leading facilitators of global trade, logistics, and industry, and... Read more
Sastry: Africa’s mining industry offers high margins and long-term contracts
(Posted on 20/06/24)Speaking at this year’s Drycon conference in Mumbai, Capt. Pappu Sastry, CEO of Adhira Shipping... Read more
Tunley Environmental announces ambitious transatlantic expansion plans
(Posted on 19/06/24)Sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental is announcing ambitious transatlantic expansion plans... Read more
Duluth earns favourable marks in Green Marine environmental rating
(Posted on 14/06/24)The Duluth Seaway Port Authority and its terminal operations on Rice’s Point ranked among the... Read more
