Preliminary figures indicate that total container volumes across the six-port range decreased by 77,000 TEUs (or 2.1 per cent) in December compared to November with 3.60 million TEUs, which would equate to a 1.8 per cent year-on-year gain.

For incoming volumes, preliminary December data indicates that every port except Zeebrugge experienced a decrease in volume from November, with all changes in the single-digit percentage range. In terms of year-on-year growth, every port except Hamburg and Bremen/Bremerhaven is anticipated to have posted an increase, with a double-digit percentage increase at Zeebrugge. The North Range is anticipated to have posted a 2.4 per cent decrease from November and a 1.8 per cent gain year-on-year.

For outgoing volumes, preliminary data indicates that every port experienced a decrease in volume from November, with all changes in the single-digit percentage range. In terms of year-on-year growth, every port except Hamburg and Bremen/ Bremerhaven is anticipated to have posted an increase, with a double-digit percentage increase at Le Havre. The North Range is projected to have posted a 1.8 per cent decrease from November and a 1.8 per cent gain year-on-year.

Total imports to Europe surged by 16.6 per cent in December, with a 17.1 per cent jump in North Europe (up 7.0 per cent year-on-year) and a 15.7 per cent jump in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region (up 4.0 per cent year-on-year).

Total exports from Europe increased by 3.0 per cent in December, with a 0.8 per cent gain in North Europe (down 0.2 per cent year-on-year) and a 6.7 per cent increase in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region (up 5.9 per cent year-on-year).

For 2018, loaded incoming volumes across the North Range are projected to have posted a 4.3 per cent increase while loaded outgoing volumes are forecasted to have grown by 2.7 per cent.

For 2018, total imports to Europe increased by 3.9 per cent, with a 2.8 per cent gain in North Europe and a 5.9 per cent increase in the Med-Black Sea region. Exports increased by 2.5 per cent across Europe, with a 1.9 per cent gain in North Europe and a 3.4 per cent gain in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region.

The North American edition of the Global Port Tracker reported an increase of 144,000 TEUs in December. The combined import volume at the monitored West Coast ports increased by 119,000 TEUs between November and December, which equates to a 10.5 per cent jump month-on-month and a 14.1 per cent surge year-on-year. The combined import volume at the monitored East Coast ports grew by 3.2 per cent (or 27,000 TEUs) in December, for a 13.5 per cent year-on-year surge. The tracked ports imported a total of 24.85 million TEUs in 2018, which equates to a 6.2 per cent increase over 2017. Exports totalled 14.38 million TEUs, for a 3.0 percent gain over 2017.
Source: North Europe Port Tracker, ISL, Hackett Associates