Global Ports Investments has posted its operational results for Q1 2021.
The Group’s consolidated marine container throughput declined by 5.9% down to 371 thousand TEU. The Baltic terminals were down 11.9%, with FCT down 8.1% to 157.1 thousand TEU, PLP down 13.6% to 93.2 thousand TEU, and ULCT down 42.4% to 8.3 thousand TEU.
Vostochnaya Stevedoring Co in the Russian Far East grew by 11.5% making 112.3 thousand TEU.
Container traffic via the Finnish terminals (Multi-Link Terminals in Helsinki and Kotka jointly operated with CMA Terminals) declined by 19% year-on-year down to 20.1 thousand TEU.
The inland terminal of Yanino handled 17.8 thousand TEU, down 26% year-on-year.
The Group’s consolidated marine bulk throughput increased by 22% y-o-y to 1.26 mn tons in Q1 2021, driven by the solid recovery in global coal demand and high growth of fertilizers and scrap metal handling at PLP.
Heavy Ro-ro handling demonstrated a continued recovery with a 46% growth to 6.6 thousand units. Car handling was also strong in Q1 2021 with a 57% recovery to 28 thousand units.
Albert Likholet, CEO of Global Ports Management, commented: “Despite a muted start in January, we saw the market turn to growth, both in containerised import and export, towards the end of the first quarter of 2021, delivering double-digit growth rates in the Far Eastern and Southern Basins while the Saint-Petersburg market, where most of our terminals are located, saw a decline. We believe that the remainder of this year with its volatile freight rates, global container deficit and the recent interruption of global supply chain at Suez Canal, means that quality offering, operational flexibility and high level of customer service will be in huge demand.”