Apr.14--THE Port of Algeciras posted a 28 per cent 2011 increase in container volume year on year to 3.6 million TEU, "exceeding the most optimistic forecasts", said the port authority.
    The bulk of the Spanish port's container volume was in transshipments from Asia to the east coast of South America, reported London's International Freighting Weekly. There was also a 13.8 per cent increase in ferry-borne trucking across the 14-kilometre Gibraltar Strait to Morocco.
    Ferry traffic is expected to increase with the opening of a Renault car manufacturing plant near Tangiers with anticipated boost in exports from the Tangier-Med container terminal for Algeciras and then into Europe. But Barcelona and Valencia also compete for this traffic.
    Algeciras also hopes to develop as an important rail hub now that a 750-square metre intermodal terminal is nearing completion. The port is part of a long-term EU-backed project to create a Mediterranean rail corridor, initially linking Spain and France. Again, Barcelona and Valencia are also competing.

(Source:Shippingazette)