TRUCK MAFIA HALTS BILBAO BOX TRAFFIC DEVELOPMENT

It will be capable of handling 9m tonnes of cargo annually, although this will be extended to 15m tonnes depending on demand.

In 2004, Bilbao box terminal ATM registered a 9.76% hike in throughput to 207,825 TEUs, while revenue grew by 15.39% to ¢14.2m. Expectations for 2005 are for an increase of around 17%. Nevertheless, ATM managing director Jose Mencerreyes has publicly admitted that Bilbao is becoming little more than a regional port given difficulties in freeing up road haulage access to the port which is currently restricted to only a handful of companies. This has had the effect of boosting prices and reducing the catchment area of the port.