seagull Aug 9 '10, 20:35
Port of Gent is doing well in first six months
For the first half year of 2010 port of Ghent recorded a total cargo traffic of 24.1 million tonnes. The positive evolution that was registered at the end of 2009 and the beginning of this year continues steadily.
24.1 million tonnes of goods were recorded for the first semester of 2010. This contrasts sharply with the 16.9 million tonnes for the first six months of the crisis year 2009. But then again, they do concur with the overall cargo transhipment of 23.6 million tonnes in the first semester of the record year 2008.
Cargo
For the first six months, mainly the solid mineral fuels, ores and metal products, building materials and chemicals are on the rise. Agricultural products and foodstuffs came to a standstill.
Seagoing and inland navigation
In the first semester, port of Ghent registered a cargo traffic by seagoing navigation of 13.5 million tonnes, an increase by 45% as against 2009. In the crisis year 2009 this amounted to 9.3 million tonnes for the same period, in the record year 2008 it was 13.6 million tonnes.
Cargo traffic by inland navigation accounts for 10.6 million tonnes as against 7.4 million tonnes in the first 6 months of 2009. This represents a 40% increase. In 2008 it amounted to 10 million tonnes.
Consequently, the positive evolution of the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 continues. Port of Ghent registers better than in the crisis year 2009 both for seaborne and for inland cargo traffic. The increase is about just as high for goods imports as for exports.
The record year of 2008 may well be equalled for the first six months but caution remains necessary.
Belgium
