HANSA 03-2018

Häfen | Ports
Jaxport is set to begin construction of a new automobile processing
terminal, the first phase of a multi-year project which
will increase the vehicle-handling capacity by 25%. The expansion
follows a year of record vehicle volumes. In 2017, the port
moved 693,000 total units, the most in its history. When combined
with the containers handled through private terminals,
more than 1.3 mill. TEUs containers were handled. According
to the port authority, the Asian container trade continues to be
the fastest growing segment, achieving 19% growth in the past
year, with nearly 400,000 Asian containers moved.
However, the port plans to expand the infrastructure in order
to be ready for future challenges. The federal project to deepen
the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet to accommodate even
more cargo aboard the largest ships is scheduled to begin construction
later this year.
Binational record, too
The St. Lawrence Seaway is of great significance both for the U.S.
and Canada. Since its opening in 1959, over 2.9 bn. t of cargo valued
at over 450 bn $ has moved through the 15 locks. The Seaway
Management Corporation (SLSMC) recently announced that robust
economic growth brought about strong gains in a number
of cargo sectors, with tonnage rising by 9% to over 38 mill. t of
cargo.
»From iron ore movements stoking both North American as
well as Asian steel mills, to shipments of stone, cement and steel
that enabled construction activity to keep moving at a brisk pace,
the Seaway demonstrated its role as a vital binational transportation
gateway supporting virtually every sector of the North American
economy,« SLSMC said.
M
»Changes in the U.S. administration
are not affecting the market«
in mill. t (Jan-Aug)
Maritime trade between Germany and North America has
apparently seen positive evolution over the past year despite
some concerns over new trade policy measures. For a genuine
comparative analysis, the full-year results have been lacking
so far. However, a promising trend is already traceable to the turnover
figures for the first eight months of the year. According to
German Seaport Operators Association ZDS, total cargo handling
volume in North America-Germany traffic increased by 7.3%
to 14.4 Mio.t. Containerized cargo, coal, crude oil and natural
gas, agricultural products, ores, industrial rocks and minerals as
well as chemical products were the dominant types of goods by
weight. According to the ZDS, »structural change« is currently
not becoming apparent.
Both imports and exports increased. The largest part is attributable
to trade with the United States at 10.2 Mio.t, where growth
totalled 8%. Canada traffic was boosted by 5.9% to a total of
4.2 Mio.t.
As a limitation, container turnover only increased in Canada
trade (+ 5.2% to 225,000 TEUs) while in the U.S. trade it dropped
2% to 906,000 TEUs.
Next to Asia, the U.S. constitute a major market for German exports
Seaborne especially. traffic Therefore, Germany/USA the U.S. developments are closely monitored
between Ems
and Oder. If some industry
players should
have raised concerns
about the possible
effects of the Trump
administration’s
»new« trade policy,
this was apparently
only partially justified.
»Basically, it may well
be concluded that the changes
in the U.S. political administration
are not affecting
the market. Although
we registered changes on
the lines to North America
Container throughput in Germany for
North America in mill. TEU (Jan-Aug)
0,225 0,214
Daniel Hosseus,
Association of German
Seaport Operators
last year, these changes are rather owed to a reorganization of the
shipping alliances than to Donald Trump,« ZDS Chief Executive
Daniel Hosseus tells HANSA. The forecasts for foreign trade
– both with the USA and Canada – are good. »It is the rhetoric of
the U.S. President which is not Seaborne helpful,« traffic Hosseus Germany/Canada
says.
in mill. t (Jan-Aug)
1,36
1,39
Photo: ZDS
M
traffic Germany/USA
ill. t (Jan-Aug)
5,23
4,21
5,46
4,74
5,23
4,21
2017 2016
German Exports
German Imports
Seaborne traffic
Germany / USA in mill. t (Jan–Aug)
German Exports
German Imports
Container throughput in Germany for
North America in mill. TEU (Jan-Aug)
0,225 0,214
0,906 0,925
0,906 0,925
2017 2016
Canada
USA
Container throughput in Germany for North
America in mill. TEU (Jan–Aug)
4,74
Canada
USA
Seaborne traffic Germany/USA
in mill. t (Jan-Aug)
5,46
5,23
4,21
2,87
2,60
2017 2016
German Exports
German Imports
Source: ZDS/HANSA
Seaborne traffic
Germany / Canada in mill. t (Jan–Aug)
German Exports
German Imports
2016
2017 2016
2017 2016
HANSA International Maritime Journal – 155. Jahrgang – 2018 – Nr. 3 81