The French Mediterranean port Marseille Fo[ds_preview]s has reported 2016 volumes on par with the previous year. New peaks were measured for container and passenger trades, but drybulk throughput slipped. The forecast is positive.
From Januar to December, 81 million tonnes were handled at the double port in the south. »Emerging trades – notably import/export cars, LNG and miscellaneous dry bulks – bolstered the traditional traffic base, where highlights included a container record 1.25 million teu and a 7% increase in trailers«, the port announced. Meanwhile passenger numbers reached two new peaks – 2.7 million overall and 1.6m in cruise visitors.
Traffic in 2017 is forecast to rise by 2.2% to 82.7 million tons while investments are set for an 18% increase to 65 million €. Spending will include 5.5 million € for a mid-section quay joining the two container terminals at Fos2XL, where capacity will be increase by 15-20% on completion in 2018. The budget also features a provision of €6.7m to upgrade the international ferry terminal.
Beyond cargo and passenger handling, the port also emphasized that it strengthened its position in 2016 as a major hub for logistics and industry tenants »with extensive logistics park developments, a string of groundbreaking energy sector projects and further growth in shiprepair activity«.
With 12 million tons from containers, general cargo rose 3% on 2015 to 18.5 million tons. The container record followed increases of 3% overall and 4% at the deepsea Fos terminals – »a fourth consecutive year of growth that outstripped the European and French average for the second year running and underlined the port’s ‘alternative southern gateway for Europe’ marketing proposition.«
The port expects, that the major alliances further reinforce their presence at Fos in 2017. Pre- and post-forwarding container activity on rail and inland waterways was marked by an 8% rise in rail traffic to 121,000 TEU. The increase was helped by the arrival of two new operators, Modal Ouest and BD Rail Services, serving Chalon-sur-Saone and Niort in mid-west France.
Future growth potential was signalled by the EU-backed Fresh Food Corridor pilot scheme, which links Israel to northern markets via ports and railheads in southern Europe. According to the statement, Marseille Fos took part in test runs that halved transit times to Rotterdam and Hamburg. The port is now participating in an extended 2017 programme.
Elsewhere in general cargo, ro-ro traffic included 182,000 trailers – representing a 7% increase in the Corsica and North Africa trade – and 170,000 import/export cars, a 5% rise. However, conventional trades slipped 3% to 2.3MT due to a downturn in steel industry products.
Crude imports decrease in Marseille Fos
The oil and gas sector provided the port’s biggest volume leap of the year – a 33% increase worth 1.3 million tons taking LNG to 5.5 million tons. However, after being ahead for 11 months, the overall result was a point down on 49.4 million tons. Crude imports fell 3% to 26.3 million tons after Total started the conversion of its La Mede facility to a bio-refinery. Refined products on 12 million tons and LPG on 2.2 million tons dipped 6% and 2% respectively, while liquid chemicals and agro-products fell 6% to 3.3 million tons.
Total dry bulks traffic fell 7% to 13 million tons despite a recovery in Q4. The steel industry slump hit demand for raw materials – down 11% to 8.6 million tons. »Favourable prospects for 2017 include growth plans by major steel producer ArcelorMittal – which suffered from technical shutdowns in 2016 – and a new scrap iron trade estimated at 90,000T per year«, the port said.
The record passenger total of 2.7 million – up 6% – was driven by a 9% rise in cruise numbers to another new high of 1.6 million. In 2017 enlargement works will be completed on the Passe Nord port entrance in Marseille to enhance access for mega-cruiseships. Ferry carryings on Corsica and North Africa services rose 2% to 1.1 million, marked by Algeria’s 27% increase to almost 285,000 passengers.
