ROBUST fourth quarter box volumes from DP World, up nine per cent over 2011, shows demands in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent remain strong, says the UK's Transport Intelligence.

    Also encouraging, said the Ti report, are results from the Port of Hamburg where the dominant Hamburg Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) stevedores, whose volumes increased 21.3 per cent to 7.1 million TEU.

    HHLA attributes this growth to increasing trade with the Far East and eastern Europe as well a greater ability to handle mega-ships.

    Fourth quarter volumes through UAE ports were up by 500,000 TEU and full-year throughput increased 13 per cent 13 million TEU. Volumes in Asia Pacific and the Indian subcontinent grew by 12 per cent to 24.7 million TEU despite DP World's lacklustre growth at its European terminals.

    "These numbers illustrate that until the end of 2011 world trade remained very healthy and demand for sea freight in particular is very strong," said Transport Intelligence.

    "This includes the developed economies as well as the emerging markets. The financial system may be under strain, however it is still yet to greatly depress the market for global logistics," said the report.

(Source:Shippingazette)