Spanish ports rank fourth in Europe
A recent report identified Spain as Europes fourth most important country in terms of port traffic. While the UK attracts 18% of the combined 3.05 billion tonnes handled by the Continents ports, Spain occupies a credible fourth place behind both Italy and Holland with an 11% share. In terms of individual ports, Rotterdam tops the league, followed by Antwerp, Hamburg, Marseilles and Le Havre, with Algeciras, in 14th place, Spains leading port.
The dominance of Maersk can be seen in figures released by Algeciras port authority covering January and February 2005 during which throughput at the port amounted to 501,514 TEUs.
Half year results for container throughput point to Barcelona having a particularly good 2004, with 932,984TEUs handled, a rise of 18.44%. This compares with Valencia, where throughput went up by 8.5%, Algeciras (+10.3%), Genoa (+2.32%), Marseilles (+10.95%), Rotterdam (+11.39%) and Antwerp (+14.91%). Barcelona projects ending the year with an increase in box traffic of 12-13% to around 1.9mTEUs.
Valencia, now Spain’s main import-export port for containers, continues to expand facilities, with TCV Stevedoring preparing to upgrade the draught alongside 900 metres of its 1,140 metre long quay wall from 14 to 14.5 metres to enable it to better accommodate the 5,000TEU vessels operated by main client China Shipping. Three additional RTGs have been ordered from Finland bringing the overall complement to 14. These can stack 5-over-1 and six-plus-one wide and will be operational as from January next year.
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