French port Marseille Fos has risen its turnover in 2016 to 148.7 mill.€. That marks an increase of 9.7 % over the first two years of a growth initiative from 2014 till 2018.
According to the port since 2014, a heightened drive to complement the port’s longstanding oil & gas [ds_preview]activity has seen increases of 12 % in roro volumes, 10 % in passenger numbers and a notable 7 % in containers. Box throughput outstripped the European growth average with rises of 4 % in 2015 and 3 % in 2016 to reach last year’s port record of 1.25 mill. TEU. One reason for that is the addition of another 300,000 m2 of logistics park developments.
Meanwhile internal and external costs fell 4.8 % from 117 mill. € in 2014 to 111.4 mill. € in 2016, helping the gross operating surplus to almost double over the two years from 22 mill. € to 42.1 mill. €.
Investments during this time totalled 135 mill. € and are now being followed by a 2017 to 2019 spending program designed to further enhance the port’s position as a motor of the regional economy supporting 41,500 direct and indirect jobs.
Additional strategic plans announced
Saluting the 2016 results, the port’s supervisory board noted that the advances had been achieved after a period of challenges such as the world financial crisis and difficulties in the European oil refining sector. Despite this context, Marseille Fos had redefined itself as a multi-purpose gateway and enhanced its investment capacity to demonstrate its ability to prepare for future challenges. Work on drawing up the next strategic plan, covering 2019 to 2023, will start this year the port informs.
