Maritime Trade and Transport - HWWI

The various regions of the world are involved in the seaborne trade of the EU to differing
degrees. Fig. 13 shows the regional distribution of the extra-EU trade in sea traffic for the
year 2002. By volume, Africa – just ahead of the non-EU European countries (including the
Russian Federation) – was the most important trade partner of the EU in sea traffic in 2002.
The largest amounts of goods (in tons) were imported from these two groups of countries.
In regard to exports from the EU, the largest amounts of goods conveyed by sea transport
went to North America. In 2002, this was also the only region with which the European
Union recorded a surplus in seaborne trade by volume. By value, the Asia-Pacific economic
area was the most important trade partner of the EU in sea transport. This was especially due
to the high imports of the EU from this region. In exports from the EU, on the other hand,
Asia-Pacific only held second place, behind North America. Apart from trade with the Asian
countries, the ratio between value and amount for EU exports was considerably higher than
that for EU imports.
Among the total imports of the European Union, petroleum products (including crude oil)
were, by quantity, the most important category of goods in sea transport in 2005 (see Fig. 14).
It accounted for 46.6% of the total import volume and was followed by solid mineral fuels
with a share of 15.1%. Ore and scrap metal or metal waste had a 11.8% share. For this group
of goods, the ratio between value and amount is very low. By value, for example, petroleum
products only made up 30.4% of imports. The largest share here, 41.5%, was accounted for
by the commodity group including “vehicles, machines, other semi-finished and finished articles,
and special cargo.” For this category, the ratio between value and amount is the highest.
10.9% of the imports were foodstuffs and animal feed (Commodity Groups No. 0 and 1).
Shares of imports and exports in maritime transport between the EU
and the world regions, 2002, in %
Fig. 13
28 Berenberg Bank · HWWI: Strategy 2030 · No. 4
EU imports EU exports Total
Share of Share of Share of Share of Share of Share of
trade trade trade trade trade trade
volume value volume value volume value
Non-EU European countries 23.4 16.5 17.4 12.5 22.0 14.5
(incl. Russia)
Africa 25.0 13.2 17.3 12.1 23.2 12.6
North America 8.3 14.7 32.1 32.3 13.9 23.5
Central and South America 17.2 9.6 7.0 8.8 14.8 9.2
Middle/Near East 13.2 6.8 8.5 9.1 12.1 7.9
Asia 8.1 37.2 16.6 22.2 10.1 29.7
Australia and Oceania 4.8 2.0 1.3 3.1 4.0 2.6
Source: Pongas, Tronet (2004).