General cargo rises by five percent at the Balearic Islands’ ports
01/02/2013In 2012, general cargo handled at the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) increased by 5% to 8.4 million tonnes compared to 8 million tonnes in 2011. Traffic at the Port of Palma went up by 11% to 5.9 million tonnes, compared to 5.3 million in the previous year. Total goods traffic in the five public interest ports in the Balearic Islands rose by 3%. 11.5 million tonnes were handled in 2012 compared to 11.2 million tonnes in 2011. The Port of Palma was the only public interest port in the Balearic Islands whose volumes rose in this area whilst figures were down at the rest of the archipelago´s ports which recorded decreases of less than 10%. In 2012, traffic at the Port of Mahon fell by 9% to 729,472 tonnes, goods handled at the Port of Ibiza dropped by 8% to 1.8 million tonnes, figures at Alcudia went down by 3% to 1.5 million tonnes and La Savina fell by 1% to 268,311 tonnes. Other traffic The Port of Palma was also the only port to grow in terms of general cargo traffic in 2012 although figures for the Port of La Savina remained unchanged at 252,873 tonnes. These decreases were also less than 10%: 9% at Ibiza (1.4 million tonnes) and Mahon (537,724 tonnes), and 7% at the Port of Alcudia (250,045 tonnes). The Port of Palma registered an increase in solid bulk traffic, basically thanks to cement exports. This represented a rise of 28% to 243,717 tonnes, whilst figures were down at the other ports: Mahon -57%, Ibiza -29%, La Savina -9% and Alcudia -2%. Finally, liquid bulk (basically fuel) traffic rose in 2012 at the ports of Ibiza and Mahon, by 3% and 1% respectively, and fell at the Majorcan ports of Alcudia (-11%) and Palma (-5%). For further statistical information, visit www.portsdebalears.com.
