Asia-Europe volume rose 3% in 2011

   Asia-to-Europe container volume rose 3.3 percent in 2011, according to figures released this week by Container Trade Statistics, which compiles self-reported volumes from the major lines on trades to and from Europe.
   Volume reached 13.9 million TEUs in the year, up from 13.5 million in 2010. That included a 0.8 percent rise year-on-year in December to 1.2 million TEUs, but a 0.5 percent drop in the fourth quarter to 3.4 million TEUs.
   Europe-to-Asia volume rose 7.5 percent in 2011 to 6.1 million TEUs.
On the transatlantic trade, westbound volume rose 3.4 percent in 2011 to 2.9 million TEUs, despite a 4.5 percent year-on-year drop in the fourth quarter to 670,200 TEUs.
   Eastbound volume rose 8.4 percent to 3.4 million TEUs, including a 7.4 percent increase in the fourth quarter to 849,100 TEUs.
   Volume from the Indian Subcontinent to Europe rose 9.4 percent in 2011 to 1.8 million TEUs, and 8.1 percent in the other direction to 2.9 million TEUs.
   Volume from South America to Europe rose 9.7 percent to 1.7 million TEUs, and 9.1 percent from Europe to South America to 1.5 million TEUs.