The Port of Tarragona grows by 5.2% up to the month of May, with 13.4 million tonnes
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Published in 2017
30 Jun
2017
2017
Chemicals and petrochemicals, vehicles and animal feed are the types of traffic that have increased most over the first five months of the year
The Port of Tarragona has transported a total of 13.44 million tonnes between January and May. This figure represents an increase of 5.2% compared with the same period in the previous year. Vehicles, with a movement of 89,379 units and an increase of 25.4%, and energy products (crude oil, chemicals, gas-oil, biofuels, coal, etc.) which have exceeded 9.5 million tonnes up to May, 6.1% more than between January and May 2016, are two of the types of traffic that have recorded improved performance over this first period of the year.
Exports continue to grow
The figures for exports are also positive for these first five months of the year, and continue the trend displayed in previous months. 2.3 million tonnes of products have been exported to international countries from the Port of Tarragona,18.4% more than in the same period in 2016. Imports have also increased by 4.6%. 9.4 million tonnes have been imported through the Port of Tarragona up to May.
These figures reflect an increase in foreign trade of 7.1% more than the previous period.
Vehicles and agri-food items: consolidating the rising trend
As for the vehicles terminal, 89,379 units have been handled, 25.4% more than in the same period last year. The growth is significant, both in terms of exports and imports.
In the traffic of agri-food products, the Port of Tarragona is a leader in the Mediterranean. Specifically, 1.4 million tonnes have been moved up until May, 27.5% less than the previous year, but bearing in mind that 2016 was an extraordinary year in terms of the volume of agri-food products. Thus, in this segment, the increase in feed and fodder (up 31.4%) is notable.
In the case of fruit and vegetable products, 46,555 tonne have been transported from the Port of Tarragona, thereby consolidating it as a port of entry for tropical fruit from the peninsula and also for their distribution towards the area of influence.
The Port of Tarragona has maritime connections with the main fruit exporters, which results in scheduled services with New Zealand, Costa Rica, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
Maintaining leadership in chemicals and petrochemicals
Up to the May, the Port of Tarragona has moved 8.9 million tonnes of bulk liquid products (which includes crude oil, other petroleum products and chemicals). This figure represents an increase of 7.2% over the same period in 2016. In this segment, the traffic items that have registered the greatest growth are crude oil (up 6.1%) with 3.9 million tonnes, fuel oil (up 17.3%) with 1.5 million tonnes; gas-oil (up 53.6%) and with 553,073 tonnes, natural gas (up 24.5%) with 1.6 million tonnes, petrol (up 38.9%) and biofuels (up 106.6%).
Chemical products are situated at 760,346 tonnes, with an increase of 3.2% compared to the January-May period of the previous year.
The Port of Tarragona is a hub port for refined petroleum products, such as fuel oil and other petroleum products. Large petrochemical ships from international destinations dock at the Port of Tarragona’s specialised terminals, and from here the product is distributed to the rest of the Mediterranean ports.
In addition, during the first five months of the year, construction materials have consolidated their upward trend, with more than 431,635 tonnes moved (up 608.4%), and especially asphalt, with more than 382,251 tons moved (up 31701.2), iron and steel products, which have also performed well with 240,308 tonnes moved (up 2.3%).
With regard to livestock traffic, in recent months the Port of Tarragona is attaining record numbers. Up to May 21,617 head of cattle have been exported, compared to the 11,668 moved in the same period in 2016.
