Japan's Kobe Sees Container Traffic Rise 5.4 Percent

The Port of Kobe in western Japan saw container traffic rise 5.4 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2011, as imports rose 6.1 percent at the country’s fourth-largest container port.

Container throughput at the port was 1,044,598 20-foot equivalent units during the same period, with exports up 4.8 percent year-over-year, according to preliminary figures released by the Kobe municipal government.

In terms of volume, Kobe handled 24.6 million metric tons of cargo, up 4 percent year-over-year. Exports rose 2.1 percent and imports grew 5.7 percent.

Trade with the U.S. in the first half rose 6.1 percent year-over-year to 3.9 million tons of cargo. Exports rose 6.9 percent and imports increased 5.8 percent.

Contact Hisane Masaki at yiu45535@nifty.com.