With a 6 per cent rise in overall seaborne trade (92.64 million tonnes) and over 15 per cent in container traffic, HAROPA recorded the best figures among North-European ports for 2017. For the first time in its history, HAROPA handled 3 million TEUs over the year on import and export, proof of its customers’ confidence.
This result is the fruit of an overall development of the logistics sector of HAROPA, which combines a first-class shipping offer, a high-performance cargo transit, fully developing connected logistics zones and diversified and multimodal inland transport services.
HAROPA has accommodated since April 2017 the three alliances, 2M, Ocean Alliance and The Alliance, grouping together all shipping lines on transatlantic and Asia-Europe trades. In addition, The Alliance has just announced the arrival, in April 2018, of a new Asia-Europe service placing HAROPA as the first port of call on import, which means that further traffic rise is expected. The rising strength of the multimodal terminal in Le Havre in 2017, with 145,000 TEUs handled, is a support for the development of new rail and river services.
The hinterland container traffic exceeded 2 million TEUs for the first time, growing by 7 per cent. Transhipment rose by 39 per cent and also reached a record.
With these good results, HAROPA strengthens its importance within North-European ports: Over the last 7 years, its weightage increased from 5.86 per cent in 2011 to around 7 per cent in 2017 according to its estimates, that is a 1.1 point rise.
Other HAROPA trades strongly rose in competitive sectors.
The RoRo traffic (300,000 vehicles) on import and export rose by 18 per cent.
The liquid bulk trades (+ 5 per cent) also increased owing to the Norman refineries which ran at full capacity, thus resulting in a decrease in import of refined products.
Seaborne and river trades of building materials are also on a strong rise (respectively +19 per cent and +14 per cent) proving the momentum of the building and public works segment, the construction of Greater Paris and the potential of river transport for this market. More globally, dry bulk traffic is recovering with the new grain season.
Looking ahead to 2018
Buoyed by these good overall results and the strategic ambition confirmed by the government, HAROPA will carry on its action in 2018 according to customers’ expectations:
Developing rail and river services: In the favourable environment related to the state confirming the subsidy granted to combined transport, HAROPA will help create new rail and river services in 2018 and, especially, in creating a rail shuttle to Switzerland and a new inland river service from Le Havre to Bonneuil-sur-Marne, upstream Paris.
Strengthening trade assistance to customers: There is a move initiated to turn the page on the poor grain season in 2016/2017 related to the disappointing 2016 crop. HAROPA-Port of Rouen has set up a tariff scheme to support the trade in coherence with the completion of the work of deepening of its channel, which will make it possible to increase the ships’ size and volume of shipment. The rates will thus decrease by about 25 per cent for large vessels.
Innovating: HAROPA carries on with its ambition as a more and more environment-friendly “green port”, and as a “smart port” at the leading edge of digital technology to facilitate data exchanges and get free flowing cargo transit. The initiatives are numerous, often collaborative and involve port authorities and stakeholders. As regards the “green port”, they especially concern the use of gas and electricity instead of oil products for vessels and trucks. As for the “smart port”, action was initiated in 2017 via a Scientific Interest Group (GIS in French), Trafis, which groups together the Customs, SOGET, the University of Le Havre and HAROPA for the implementation of a programme of applied research.
After an exceptional year 2017 and six years’ experience, HAROPA, the leading French port system, will be the subject of changes in 2018 according to the strengthened integration trends expressed by the French Prime Minister. The figures and ambition prove that HAROPA has all the conditions to carry on growing at the service of its customers in 2018.
