JOC Staff | Feb 25, 2013 12:55PM EST
The North European edition of the Global Port Tracker predicts that total European imports will decrease by 3.2 percent to 20.2 million 20-foot-equivalent units in 2013, while exports are expected to rise 9.3 percent to 18.7 million TEUs.
Total incoming loaded containers are projected to decrease by 0.9 percent in the coming six months versus the previous six months, compared to a 1 percent increase in the previous year. Outgoing loaded containers are forecast to increase by 0.4 percent over the coming six month period, versus a 2.2 percent increase over the same period of the previous year.
Imports into North Europe, including the U.K., are expected to rise 1.8 percent in 2013, following 2012’s 0.8 percent decline. However, exports will remain positive, with a projected increase of 7.9 percent, compared with a 9.5 percent increase in 2012, driven primarily by Germany.
At the end of 2012, Rotterdam remained the largest import port, with a market share of 13 percent, followed by Hamburg, with 11 percent. On the export side, Rotterdam also had a 15 percent share, with Hamburg and Antwerp each with 13 percent.
