Tarragona Port’s traffic increased by 38.4% in the first quarter of 2012

Taragona (ACN).- The Port of Tarragona, in southern Catalonia, transported 9,018,425 tonnes of goods over the first quarter of 2012, which represents a 38.4% increase compared to the same period last year. With this volume of freight and liquids transported, Tarragona confirms its position as Spain’s fourth largest port. According to Tarragona’s Port Authority, traffic of all kind of goods has increased, having “the best first quarter in the harbour’s history”. However, the most significant increase is that of oil related products. Fuel-oil increased by 144.9% compared to the same period last year and gasoline by 99.7%. The reason for such spectacular peaks is Repsol refinery’s halt in 2011, which significantly reduced its production that year and thus the volume of goods transported through the city's port. Apart from oil products, other liquids increased by 24.17% between January and March, compared to one year ago. Tarragona Port’s managers emphasised the “firm priority of goods diversification and internationalisation”.

In January, the goods traffic passing through Tarragona’s Port increased by 30.6% in relation to January 2011, transporting 3.4 million of tonnes. In February, traffic peaked at an increase of 53.6%, transporting 2.8 million tonnes. And in March, 2.77 million tonnes passed through Tarragona’s harbour, a 34.2% increase in relation to March 2011.

Regarding solid goods, coal increased by 23%, metal products by 32.7%, and agri-food by 35.8%. In the first 3 months of 2012, the traffic of paper paste increased by 35.3%. According to the Port Authority, all these figures confirm “the efforts to adapt to market's changing situation” as well as “prioritising the diversification of goods”.

In addition, the export and import of containers, continues growing. In the first quarter of 2012, the number of exported containers increased by 9.2% and those imported by 35.9%. “These figures indicate that companies working in the area profit from the infrastructures of Tarragona’s Port to provide an answer to their products internationalisation”, they stated in a press release. In addition, “they use the port for entering goods that benefit their commercial or industrial activity”, they added.