HAMBURG SETS RECORD FOR FIRST-HALF CONTAINER VOLUMES

HAMBURG SETS RECORD FOR FIRST-HALF CONTAINER VOLUMES    The Port of Hamburg saw double-digit growth in total volumes and set a record for container throughput during the first half of 2001.
   The German port handled 45.12 million tons, up 10.8 percent from the year-earlier period. Volumes were up across all cargoes, including containers, conventional cargoes and bulk goods.
   Container volumes rose 11.8 percent to a record 2.26 million TEUs.
   “This steep growth was ensured by acquisition of a number of new liner connections that have decisively boosted Hamburg's market share,” said Hans Ludwig Beth, chairman of Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM). The port also profited from growing services to and from the Baltic and larger vessels deployed in existing Asia/Europe services.
   While the port's growth outpaced other major ports in northern Europe, Beth said growth should slow in the second half of 2001.
   Hamburg's bulk volumes for the first half of 2001 rose 12 percent to 19.2 million tons, while liquid cargoes rose 13 percent to 6.4 million tons.