Global Port Tracker issues container forecast for ports in Northern Europe
According to the latest Global Port Tracker report, Rotterdam will be the strongest growing container port in Northern Europe this year, said the port's website.
According to the report from consultant Hackett Associates and the Institut für Seeverkehrswirtschaft und Logistik (ISL) from Bremen, the increase in container throughput in Northern Europe will remain limited to 1% this year. This slight growth could be enough, however, to pass the 40 million TEU mark for the first time.
According to the latest forecast, container throughput in Hamburg and Le Havre will remain closest to the range average of +1%. For Rotterdam and Antwerp, growth of 4% and 3% respectively is predicted.
Zeebrugge will again lose market share and Bremerhaven will have to relinquish some of the lovely growth it has enjoyed in the past two years.
As incoming trade in loaded containers in the ports of Northern Europe is declining, more and more empty containers have to be repositioned. Last year, about 4 million empty TEU were unloaded, 13% more than in 2011. According to ISL, the number of empty containers unloaded this year will increase by a further 14% to 4.5 million TEU.
