Port of Marseille Fos volumes drop 3% in Q1

The Mediterranean port saw a decrease across all cargo sectors, but an 11 percent increase in the general cargo category, which includes containers, automobiles and conventional traffic.    The French Mediterranean Port of Marseille Fos saw its throughput drop of 3 percent to 19.56 metric tons across all cargo sectors in the first quarter of 2017, according to recent figures from the port.
   General cargo, however, increased 11 percent to 4.98 million metric tons for the quarter compared with the same period last year. Container volumes rose 5 percent overall and 7 percent at the deep-sea Fos terminals to reach 329,947 TEUs.
   Roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) volumes rose 11 percent to 1 metric ton, while conventional volumes jumped 22 percent to 0.7 metric tons thanks primarily to an increase in steel product shipments. Dry bulk grew 11 percent in March to finish the quarter 1 percent ahead of first quarter 2016 at 3.41 metric tons.
   The port’s liquid bulk volumes dropped 10 percent to 11.17 metric tons, driven primarily by lower oil and gas volumes (down 10 percent to 10.44 metric tons), as refinery conversion and maintenance projects caused crude imports to fall 25 percent to 5.2 metric tons, according to the port.
   However, refined products rose 22 percent to 3.29 metric tons, LNG added 5 percent to reach 1.24 metric tons for the month, and LPG was up 4 percent on 0.7 metric tons. Liquid chemicals and agro-products also contributed 0.7 metric tons, a 12 percent decrease, due to a maintenance shutdown at the Kem One plant that takes place very five years, the port said.
   Looking ahead, the Port of Marseille Fos also noted that supply chain provider XPO Logistics will start operations at a new warehouse in the Feuillane logistics zone at the port by the end of the year. In addition, a new truck service area close to the container terminals and logistics area has been opened in Fos, with expansions to come in the next few months.