Beirut Port activity down

Total container activity rises in first half of 2011 due to increased transshipments

July 19, 2011- Merchandise activity through the Beirut port slightly fell in the first half of this year. The total tonnage of loaded and unloaded merchandise at the port went down by 1.3 percent relative to the same period of 2010 to reach 3.25 million tons.

The number of ships that used the Port of Beirut during the same period declined by 7.6 percent and amounted to 1,087.

Total container activity at the Port of Beirut rose by 6 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2011. The rise is mainly attributable to a sharp increase in transshipment activity which jumped by 22 percent after transit shipping shifted from ports of neighboring countries in light of political turmoil. Internal container activity saw a three percent y-o-y drop, while the number of imported cars declined by 33 percent to 32,000 units.

The Beirut port generated $78.56 million in revenues during the first half of this year, 2.58 percent lower than the $80.64 million registered a year earlier.