World Bunkering > News > Summer 2010 > France

Cargo throughput at France’s main Mediterranean port, Marseilles Fos, fell 13.3% to 83 million tonnes last year but capital investment soared and development plans stayed broadly on track, despite one of the port’s sharpest-ever trade reversals.

Bunkering volumes at Marseilles reflected overall port activity, dropping from 1.4 million tonnes in 2008 to 1.2 million tonnes in 2009. Underlining a year of contrasts, container traffic bucked the trend with 4% growth to 882,580 TEU while grain and biofuels volumes rose by 40% and the cruise sector drove passenger numbers to an all-time high of more than two million.

The overall downturn in cargo reflected the impact of the global economic crisis on European ports. Marseilles Fos was also hit hard by a five-month shut-down of the South European oil pipeline, new import restrictions in key market Algeria, and several strikes by port and port user personnel, including stoppages over French port reform legislation.

The port authority made significant progress on the reform requirements during 2009, notably with preparations for the transfer of container and dry bulk cargo handling to private operators. The port says it “remains cautious” on cargo forecasts for 2010 but is targeting 11% growth to around 92 million tonnes thanks to the launch or recommissioning of various installations.

The first quarter of this year appears to have seen a recovery, with container volumes and a revival in local steel and chemicals production helping take total throughput to almost 21.5 million tonnes, a 3% increase on January-March last year.

Container volumes for the quarter rose 17% to 245,029 TEU, marked by a 31% jump to 63,933 TEU in the Marseilles harbour area’s mainly intra-Mediterranean traffic. The deep-sea Fos terminal added 13%, to 181,096 TEU, and looks set for further gains with the introduction of two new lines – the Med-Gulf Express serving the US and Mexico, which started in mid-March, and CSAV-Norasia’s Asia-East Mediterranean service, which now extends to Fos.

Whatever the short-term fluctuations, ambitious plans for developing Maerseilles Fos should ensure that the bunker market is set for long-term growth. Last year capital expenditure on container and logistics facilities totalled Ä76 million, representing some 60% of the year’s investment budget. More than 80% of this sum, Ä62 million, was allocated to the Fos 2XL container project, where construction of the quay was completed and work on road and rail access is now in its final stages. MSC and Port Synergy, who won the operating concessions for the two terminals, will then take over the landside development. The project is due to come on stream in 2011.

Plans for a similar public-private partnership to develop Fos 3XL and Fos 4XL container terminals had a set-back when responses to tender regarding 3XL fell short of the port’s requirements. The tender call is expected be relaunched when the economy improves. Similar short-term set backs occurred with plans to develop a new conventional cargo facility in Marseilles, and also when no acceptable bids were received take over a fruit terminal which closed last March. Again, however, these projects are waiting in the wings and will eventually go ahead. There was a better response to proposals for a car terminal at Fos, which went out to tender in 2008. The winner should be announced this year.

INEOS Refining which owns the Lavéra Refinery near Fos has signalled its intention to become a physical supplier from July this year. Recently, Hugues Goujon, the company’s Marine Business manager announced: “We are pleased to announce that from July 2010, INEOS will be marketing marine fuels from its Lavéra Refinery directly to ships.This is part of the company’s strategy to extend its offer from production, through the supply chain, to benefit end consumers directly in the marine market.”