APM sees global port projects back on track by 2015

Speaking at the Twelfth Annual Global Liner Conference this week Mr Mitchell said: “The opportunities are different now, there’s more uncertainty and slower growth in mature markets compared to emerging markets.”

Further, Mr Mitchell also sees a widening divide between the two sides: while the emerging economies are, by volume, still smaller, the percentage of growth is comparatively high.

Mr Mitchell went on to say that by 2015, port utilisation levels in many regions should once again be high enough to bring port projects forward. However, there are a few ‘black spots’ to this, notably North America and Eastern Europe where even 2015 won’t see much of a recovery.

However, even in the mature regions he sees an opportunity in the trend toward slow steaming, in that this gives operators a way to drive down handling costs by allocating berthing windows, rather that the – expensive – shifting about necessitated by a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

He also concludes that the slower growth and better planning needed to squeeze costs also means a change in commercial strategy and it is becoming even more important to involve customers in the very beginning of any project to get volume commitments.