RLL Container Report - 17 January 2018
From: John Keir, Ross Learmont Ltd. Email: john.keir@telia.com Date: 17 January 2018
Coming to a container port near you.
In the eleven months to November 2017, the Port of Klaipeda handled 39.21 million tons, which represents an increase of 6.5% over the previous year. All cargo categories registered an upturn with liquids up by 17.1%, general goods by 14.4% and bulk up by a creditable 16.3% to 1.81 million tons, the greatest increase of any cargo category. It is within this category of dry bulk that one will find cargoes suitable for containerisation. This applies not only to the Lithuanian port but to all ports in the northern range. With inbound containerised cargoes on the increase, the North European ports may now have sufficient return box volume to entice major exporters to consider switching from traditional bulk to intermodal transport. Lest you think there might not be sufficient inbound volumes of boxes to cope with any increase in European exports, fear not for our Chinese colleagues have got it all worked out.
Just when you thought containerisation had reached its peak, China commenced trials of the world’s biggest automated box terminal. The Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port, situated to the south of the Donghai Bridge is the latest phase of the Yangshan Port Development. This occupies an area in excess of 2.2 million square metres and, more importantly, a shoreline stretching over 2.3 km long. Once completed, this fourth phase of development will add another 4 million teu to the annual port capacity, which in 2017 topped 40 million teu. Much of this additional outbound box flow will be heading for Northern Europe.
The fourth phase of Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, by far the largest automated container terminal in the world, started trial operations in December. As part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, the port facility can operate completely unmanned. The fourth phase of the Yangshan Port will be capable of handling 4 million teu, which will help consolidate Shanghai's position as the world's leading box port. So far, the equipment under trial consists of 10 bridge cranes, 40 rail-mounted gantry cranes and 50 AGVs. The project will eventually be equipped with 26 bridge cranes, 120 rail-mounted gantry cranes and 130 AGVs. Located at the South of Donghai Bridge, this latest phase of the Yangshan Deep Water Port covers 2.23 million square metres and has a 2,350-metre long shoreline.
Meanwhile further to the south, the island-state of Singapore is determined to keep up with its competitors in the People’s Republic. In the eleven months to November, the South East Asian hub processed 30.7 million teu, which presents a 9.1% increase on the previous year’s total. All this frenetic port construction will result in ever greater volumes of export boxes being despatched to the main consumer markets in Europe and North America and, of course, an even larger volume of laden and empty units moving in the other direction.
John Keir, Ross Learmont Ltd.
17 January 2018
Copyright ©, 2018, John Keir