New market study, "Croatia Shipping Report Q1 2011", has been published

Dec. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- Throughput at one of Croatia's main ports, Ploce, is on course to continue its recovery in 2011, with seven-month throughput volumes at the port showing that the facility's recovery started in 2010.

The latest year-to-date figures (January-July 2010) saw tonnage volumes at the port of Ploce for the first seven months of 2010 increase by 40% on the same period in 2009. We project that this increase will also be reflected in container volumes, with BMI projecting that the port will handle 34,508 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2010, a y-o-y increase of 33%.

Throughput growth at Croatia's two main ports, Ploce and Rijeka, is on course to continue in the mid term (2011-2014) as both ports strive to recover their pre-downturn throughput volumes in both total tonnage and boxes. We believe that in terms of total throughput the ports of Ploce and Rijeka will recover their pre-downturn levels in 2012 and 2014 respectively. We are more bullish on the box front, and project a recovery to the ports' 2008 container throughput levels in 2011.

Headline Industry Data

* 2011 port of Rijeka tonnage throughput forecast +13.96%, following projected growth of 9.36% in 2010.
* 2011 port of Rijeka container throughput forecast +37.21% following projected growth of 29.55% in 2010.
* 2011 total trade growth forecast at 5.24%.

Key Industry Trends

Developing For The Box Trade - Major investment is set to flood into Croatia's port sector in the next few years. The EBRD continues to issue funds for the country's maritime development and the concession to develop and operate the Bradjica container terminal at Rijeka has reportedly been won by HHLA, with the facility garnering interest from global port operating majors DP World, ICTSI and APM Terminals. Considering the double-digit box growth the port of Rjieka and Ploce were posting pre-downturn it is understandable why so much investment is flooding in. With BMI projecting pre-downturn box volumes at the port to recover by 2011, more interest in Croatia's container sector is likely.

China Gets Interested - Chinese shipping company and port operator COSCO is reportedly interested in operating a concession at the port of Rijeka. The Chinese firm took over the Greek port of Pireaus in 2009 and could be seeking to expand its European port exposure. The port of Rijeka is well located and has the potential to develop into a maritime hub for trade bound for landlocked Central and Eastern European states.

Risks To Outlook

Investment from major port operators offers upside potential to our forecasts. A positive outlook will be supported by the country's recovering economy, with unemployment falling and household consumption likely increase, factors that should push imports up. 2013 onwards with the country's accession into the EU could see further growth as membership traditionally goes hand-in-hand with investment.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/100813_croatia_shipping_report...

Report Table of Contents:

Executive Summary
SWOT Analysis
- Croatia Shipping SWOT
Global Overview
- Container Shipping Overview
- Dry Bulk Shipping Overview
- Liquid Bulk Overview
Industry Trends And Developments
Market Overview
- Port of Rijeka
- Overview
- Terminals, Storage And Equipment
- Expansions and Developments
- Multi-Modal Links
- Port of Ploce
- Overview
- Terminals, Storage And Equipment
- Expansions And Developments
- Multi-Modal Links
Industry Forecast
- Table: Major Port Data
- Table: Trade Overview
- Table: Key Trade Indiactors
- Table: Main Import Partners
- Table: Main Export Partners
Company Profiles
- A.P. MOLLER-MAERSK
- Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- CMA CGM
- Neptune Orient Lines (& APL)
- Hapag-Lloyd
- Evergreen Line
- China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)
- CSAV Shipping
- China Shipping (CSCL)
- Hanjin Shipping
- Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)
- Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)

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Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.