Export container transport in Barcelona up by 13%

Barcelona (ACN).- The number of containers going through the Port of Barcelona increased by up to 13% between January and April 2013, according to new data released today. The exports are now more diverse and include sales to five continents of the world. Specifically, in the first four months of the year, the port dealt with 174,711 TEU export containers. Russia, Turkey, Algeria and countries in the South-East Asia and South America are the ones prompting a more dramatic rise in the number of export containers from Barcelona.

During the first quarter, exports rose by 8%, but it was during April when the figures were more positive (27%) which helped to achieve an average of 13%. However, data from import containers is not as positive. Imports have fallen by 3% in the four first months of the year. In total, the number of containers dealt with in the Catalan port was 536,856 TEU, 2.5% less than in the same period in 2012.

One of the terminals in the port of Barcelona specialises in the car industry, and until April transported up to 231,780 vehicles, 6% more than during the same period last year. On the other hand, the port carried a total of 13.2 tons, a 3% decrease compared to 2012. Despite this weak figure, some products have experienced good increases, such as potassium (37%), salt (109%), gasoline (39%) and fuel (69%).

Finally, the number of people travelling to or from the port of Barcelona jumped by 10% during the first four months of year, achieving a final figure of 657,858 passengers. This increase is mainly due to the dramatic rise in the number of people travelling on cruises, 44,802, up 23% in comparison to last year.