HAROPA, the fifth largest port complex in Northern Europe, saw a 12.8% year on year decline in maritime traffic to 20.38m tonnes in the first quarter of 2020.
In a statement, the joint venture between the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, emphasised that it remains 100% operational.
The Q1 results, which reflect the initial impacts of the overall slowdown in the global economy, include “very contrasting situations” across the container, liquid bulk and solid bulk sectors:
- The Covid-19 effect is beginning to be felt in the Container industry;
- The temporary limitation of refining capacity is impacting the liquid bulk sector;
- Record exports of cereals are boosting the solid bulk sector.
Said the statement: “The Covid-19 effect began to be felt in the Container sector from mid-March: traffic was 530 000 TEU, down 23%, with 156 stopovers by container ships in March 2020, some 16 fewer than in March 2019.
“The effect of the slowdown in maritime traffic from Asia due to Covid-19 has been felt mainly from the second half of March.
“The effects of the pandemic-related economic crisis are now also being seen through a slowdown in global consumption and European exports, which will have a significant impact on container and ro-ro traffic for import and export in April.”
River traffic in containers on the Seine axis decreased by the equivalent of 13.5% at the end of March.
The temporary limitation on refining capacity is impacting the liquid bulk sector, down 16% to 10.48 Mt.
“This trend was expected because refining capacity has been circumstantially slowed by unintended technical shutdowns, notably that related to the December fire at the Normandy refinery, in addition to the technical shutdown of the Gandpuits refinery in Seine et Marne (whose activity will not resume until the end of the confinement).
“The impacts of the health crisis on consumption of refined products are likely to be felt on traffic in the coming weeks.”
Record cereal exports boost the solid bulk sector, up 18% to 4.26 Mt. The 2019-2020 cereal season is “excellent” with 7.2 Mt loaded at the end of March, an increase of 24% compared to the previous season.
“The dynamism of cereal exports, for example, ensures that Africa receives a proportion of its agricultural supplies. The level of shipments in recent weeks suggests a historically good season.”
Construction sector: maritime flows for the construction sector are down significantly due to the shutdown of most construction sites.
Cruise activity (maritime and river, with accommodation or simple boat trips) is totally at a standstill.
In the context of pandemic, HAROPA has decided to postpone payment of site fees for 1 March – 30 June until 10 July 2020, to support companies based on its port sites.
