[011115.EN.BIZ] Changes In Regional Container Trades And Implications For Ports: TOC Conference

THE container volume growth from Europe into the Middle East and South Asia will be one of many topics to be discussed at TOC Middle East - organised by Terminal Operations Conference (TOC) Event Worldwide - to be held on December 8-9 in Dubai, UAE.

The ability of the Middle East and South Asia economies to generate demand in their own right is evident from container trade figures for the first eight months of 2015, PortNews reported.

According to Drewry Maritime Research, eastbound Europe to Middle East/South Asia trade has significantly outperformed traffic in the opposite direction.

After eight months, Europe to South Asia volumes were up 5.6 per cent to 825,000 TEU. In the bigger Europe to Middle East trade, growth has been even more impressive at 9.4 per cent to year-to-date volumes of 1.6 million TEU.

Westbound traffic on the other hand has been much less flourishing. Middle East to Europe volumes were up by only 1.6 per cent after eight months to 475,000 TEU, while South Asia to Europe volumes fell back by 3.5 per cent to 1.11 million TEU.

Such healthy traffic on eastbound routes highlights the need for sufficient - and efficient - port capacity in the region.

The speakers at the conference include senior vice president and managing director, UAE Region, DP World Mohammed Al Muallem; director general, Saudi Ports Authority, Musaed Bin Al-Drees and; and CEO, Abu Dhabi Terminals, Martijn Van de Linde.

In addition to the keynotes, the rest of the region's most strategic ports, terminal operators and canal authorities are represented including King Abdullah Port, Suez Canal Authority, SOHAR Port & Freezone, Bandar Abbas Port Authority, YILPORT, Milaha and APM Terminals.

Source : HKSG.