Preliminary figures indicate that total container volumes across the six-port range decreased by 238,000 TEUs (or 6.2 per cent) in November compared to October with 3.58 million TEUs, which would equate to a 2.0 per cent year-on-year gain.

For incoming volumes, preliminary November data indicates that every port experienced a decrease in volume from October, with a double-digit percentage drop at Le Havre. In terms of year-onyear growth, every port except Antwerp and Zeebrugge is anticipated to have posted an increase, with all changes in the single-digit range aside from a double-digit gain at Le Havre. The North Range is anticipated to have posted a 6.7 per cent decrease from October and a 1.9 per cent gain year-on-year.

For outgoing volumes, preliminary data indicates that every port experienced a decrease in volume from October, with all changes in the single-digit percentage range. In terms of year-on-year growth, every port except Antwerp and Zeebrugge is anticipated to have posted an increase. The North Range is projected to have posted a 5.8 per cent decrease from October and a 2.1 per cent gain year-on-year.

Total imports to Europe decreased by 3.5 per cent in November, with a 4.9 per cent slide in North Europe (up 3.0 per cent year-on-year) and a 1.0 per cent dip in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region (up 7.2 per cent year-on-year).

Total exports from Europe decreased by 6.2 per cent in November, with a 5.9 per cent slide in North Europe (down 1.8 per cent year-on-year) and a 6.6 per cent decrease in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region (up 0.4 per cent year-on-year).

For 2018, loaded incoming volumes across the North Range are projected to post a 2.9 per cent increase while loaded outgoing volumes are forecast to post a 2.5 per cent increase.

For 2018, total imports to Europe are forecast to increase by 3.5 per cent, with a 1.9 per cent gain anticipated in North Europe and a 6.2 per cent increase projected in the Med-Black Sea region. Exports are forecast to increase by 2.1 per cent across Europe, with a 1.9 per cent gain in North Europe and a 2.3 per cent gain in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region.

The North American edition of the Global Port Tracker reported a decrease of 243,000 TEUs in November. The combined import volume at the monitored West Coast ports decreased by 134,000 TEUs between October and November, which equates to a 10.6 per cent drop month-on-month and a 2.5 per cent decrease year-onyear. The combined import volume at the monitored East Coast ports fell by 10.8 per cent (or 101,000 TEUs) in November, for an 8.3 per cent year-on-year gain. The forecast for 2018 projects a 5.5 per cent increase over 2017.
Source: Hackett Associates, Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics; Global Port Tracker: Europe Trade Outlook, January 2019