CMA CGM takes stake in Zeebrugge Terminal

French carrier acquires a 10 percent interest in terminal in Belgian port from China Shipping Ports.    Cosco Shipping Ports (CSP) said that CMA CGM Group has acquired 10 percent equity interest in CSP Zeebrugge Terminal through its wholly owned subsidiary, CMA Terminal.
   CMA CGM is currently the major client of CSP Zeebrugge, said CSP, and accounted for a third of the total throughput of the terminal in 2017.
   CSP said “the strategic partnership with CMA CGM should foster the development of CSP Zeebrugge into a major hub port in Northwest Europe.”
   Port of Zeebrugge reported earlier this week that it handled 19.45 million tons of cargo in the first half of 2018, 6.3 percent more than in the same period last year.
   Container traffic was up 6.1 percent to 7.7 million tons. Roll-on, roll-off traffic was up 9.3 percent to 8 million tons, and the port processed 1,456,142 cars, 2 percent more than in the first half of the 2017.
   The port also saw a 15.1 percent increase in the amount of fluid bulk cargo it handles to 2.5 million tons. It said this was mainly due to an increase in LNG cargo.