Port of Koper’s car shipments on the rise

The Slovenian port handled a record number of vehicles during 2015 and expects to see even stronger results in 2016 due to new businesses and regular connections with the Far East.    The Port of Koper officially handled its 600,000th vehicle for the year this past weekend, which not only exceeds the pre-crisis volumes of 2008 but the absolute year record in the history of the car terminal, the port said. 
   This represents a sharp increase from 2014, when the Slovenian port handled 518,900 vehicles. 
   Approximately 30 global car brands utilize the Port of Koper on a regular basis.
   The majority of cars exported from the port are destined for various Mediterranean locations. 
   The Port of Koper anticipates even stronger results next year due to new businesses and regular connections with the Far East, Port of Koper Management Board President Dragomir Matić said. 
   Car shipments from the port to the Far East in particular are expected to rise.
   Earlier this year, the Port of Koper was issued a tender by the German corporation Daimler to become a primary export port for vehicles manufactured by the Mercedes-Benz factories in Germany and other European countries to the Far East. Although the exact quantity of vehicles to be shipped from the port to Far East markets has not been defined, it is expected to be over 100,000 vehicles a year, the port previously said in October.
   The Port of Koper, which is located in southwest Slovenia along the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, was established in 1957 and features 12 specialized terminals.