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Port of Ipswich number one for agri-products exports for 17 years in a row
HAROPA PORT continues its growth in 2022, despite small drop in bulk
After a record year, HAROPA PORT remains on a growth trend in 2022. The half-yearly traffic report shows a 5% increase in maritime traffic and a 31% increase in river container traffic in Gennevilliers. The announcement of major investments such as MSC-TiL in Le Havre heralds prospects for sustainable growth.
IMPROVED RESULTS IN 2022 COMPARED TO 2021 Several traffic figures for the first half of 2022 show a clear increase compared to the same period last year. This is particularly the case for: maritime: 42.08mt [million tonnes] (+ 2mt); liquid bulk: +14.5% (+2.62mt) in connection with the restart of the Gonfreville refinery.; containers: stable with 1,485 MEVP (+2% on the inland); ferry freight vehicles: + 26%; passengers: + 24%; dry bulk: –4.2%, despite a positive dynamic in the cereals segment (+2%) with a 2022/2023 campaign estimated to be as good as 2021/2022; aggregates for the construction market are down: –22% or –260kt at the end of June, but up (+8 %) on average and remain on historical highs driven by the dynamics of work; Roro: –19.4%, but gained ten variation points in June.
HAROPA PORT STANDS UP WELL TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CRISES The war in Ukraine has had a considerable impact on the trade of agricultural products worldwide. In particular, the export of wheat, corn and oilseeds, which are mainly exported by sea, has been blocked in the Black Sea ports and will also hamper the next harvest.
This situation, however, highlights the essential place that France occupies in the supply of wheat and barley to structurally importing countries and thus opens up new market opportunities.
Port of Ipswich number one for agricultural products exports for 17 years in a row
Port of Ipswich (photo: B. Leonard).
ABP’s Port of Ipswich has retained its place as the number one export port for agricultural products for the 17th year in a row, beating London, Bristol and Belfast to claim the title. This was confirmed by the Department for Transport’s UK port freight statistics, reporting that the Port of Ipswich shipped 409,000 tonnes of agricultural products in 2021, exporting 22% of UK major ports’ outwards agricultural products tonnage last year.
The Port of Ipswich’s performance reflects its key location at the heart of the Suffolk and North Essex agricultural community, and the role of East Anglia as the ‘bread basket’ of the UK.
In addition to holding the accolade of being the biggest exporter of agricultural products, ABP’s Port of Ipswich is also the seventh busiest port in the UK overall for both imports and exports of agricultural products and plays a key role in supporting supply chains in East Anglia, including aggregates and cement for the UK construction industry.
Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager for ABP, said: “It is fantastic that we have seen continuously high agricultural export volumes, which have helped our port retain its top position as the UK’s number one export port for agricultural products.
“Our business plays an important role in supporting supply chains in East Anglia and we are grateful to all our customers for continuing to choose ABP’s Port of Ipswich to handle their imports and exports.”
Port Tampa Bay will receive $12.6 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand and diversify a berth at fast-growing Port Redwing. The port’s funding allocation is part of $1.5 billion in grant funding made available through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant programme.
Port Tampa Bay will use RAISE funding to create Berth 301 at its satellite facility, Port Redwing. The new berth will provide room for a third large ship to be worked efficiently.
“The berth 301 project will have a generational impact on our community in terms of economic development and wellpaying jobs. Port Redwing has seen tremendous growth since the deepening and expansion of the Big Bend Channel. As our community continues to see record population growth, it is important to provide an efficient way to move construction and other bulk cargoes. This project optimizes supply chain economics and helps keep wear and tear on roads to a minimum,” explains Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay CEO & President.
In the past 12 months, the port handled over one million tonnes at Port Redwing. Port tenants and customers — including The Mosaic Company, Logistec, SESCO, Ardent Mills, and Precision Build Solutions/Tampa Tank/Florida Structural Steel — will directly benefit from this project, as they are able to diversify their operations and make long-term plans and commitments to serving the region.
The project makes an important and immediate economic difference for West and Central Florida’s non-containerized industries — including cement, prilled sulphur, aggregates, steel, food and agriculture, wallboard and construction, and project cargo, among others.
Nearly ten million people reside within 75 miles of the port, and roughly 200,000 new residents have made their homes in Hillsborough County in the last decade. In addition to the numerous economic benefits, this project will also eliminate nearly three million truck miles annually and reduce wear and tear in nearby communities, which will cut emissions, enhance roadway safety, and improve truck operations.
Port Redwing
New Berth 301
Proposed site for the RAISE project at Port Redwing (above) and USDOT Sec. Pete Buttigieg’s visit to celebrate the grant allocation.
