Croatia Shipping Report Q2 2011: New research report available at Fast Market Research

April 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Throughput at one of Croatia's largest ports, Ploce, is forecast to post another year of tonnage growth in 2011 following a successful 2010, which allowed the port to make a strong start on the recovery from the global downturn in trade.

The latest year-to-date figures (January-December 2010) show that tonnage volumes at the port of Ploce increased by 57.9% year-on-year (y-o-y), reaching 4.53mn tonnes. Box levels for the year have declined, although exact figures have not been disclosed. BMI estimates that the port recorded a y-o-y decrease in container throughput of 12.2% in 2010.

The published results present a firm foundation for BMI's forecasts for port throughput at Ploce for 2011 and for the rest of the mid term.

We predict that the port's tonnage will reach 6.98mn tonnes in 2015, increasing by 36.5% on the projected 2011 handling figure. Container volumes for the same period will increase by 42.7% to reach 33,595 20- foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2015.

Headline Industry Data

* 2011 port of Rijeka tonnage throughput forecast to rise 2.68% following an estimated decrease of 3.04% in 2010.
 * 2011 Rijeka container throughput forecast to grow 5.10% following an estimated decline of 8.54% in 2010.
 * 2011 total trade growth forecast to grow 5.75%.


Key Industry Trends

Ploce's New Container Terminal Gets First Containers: On February 1 2011 the first container vessel was handled at the new box terminal at the port of Ploce. Container operations at the facility began with the arrival of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)'s Sujin. The terminal is operated by Luka Ploce. The dedicated feeder ship, with a capacity of 920 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), is chartered by MSC to be used solely to connect Ploce and Montenegro's port of Bar with a hub port of Gioia Tauro in Italy. Despite the challenging economic climate, the Croatian port sector continues developing with a number of projects currently being realised. The terminal at Ploce, country's second largest port by container and total throughput, was opened in August 2010. It is part of a wider Trade and Transport Integration Project (TTI), a joint undertaking of the Croatian Ministry of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development and the Port of Ploce Authority, with support from the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Adriatic LNG Terminal Behind the Schedule: The preliminary schedule sees the Adriatic liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the island of Krk becoming operational in 2017, years behind the original schedule. Proliferation of inter-regional gas pipeline projects in the Balkans is making the terminal's future increasingly uncertain. After months of stagnation, the Adria LNG consortium formally applied for a location permit to the environment ministry in May 2010. No supply deals have been signed and the only mooted source of gas, Iran, has yet to build any liquefaction terminals. More importantly, Croatia's decision in early-2010 to join the Russian-backed South Stream pipeline project has eroded the economic justification for a domestic LNG terminal. The consortium officially hopes to bring the planned 10-15bn cubic metre (bcm) facility onstream by 2014.

Risks to Outlook

BMI's country risk team holds the view that Croatia will experience weak growth in 2011, with GDP forecast to grow by no more than 1.7%. Potential upside risk to BMI's throughput forecasts comes in form of an increase in the country's total trade of 5.75% in real terms. Imports are expected to demonstrate 6% growth, while exports are to increase by 5.5% in 2011, bringing more cargo to the country's ports. If the trend persists over the mid term, it could create further upside risks to our port throughput forecasts.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/128741_croatia_shipping_report...


Report Table of Contents:

SWOT Analysis
- Croatia Shipping SWOT
Global Overview
- Container Industry Overview
- Table: Floating Back To The Yards - New Orders
- Dry Bulk Shipping Overview
- Table: Expansion Ahoy - Tata NYK Shipping Fleet Overview
- Table: Chief Importers Primary Destinations for Gladstone's Coal Exports
- Liquid Bulk Shipping Overview
Industry Trends and Developments
Market Overview
- Port Of Ploee
- Overview
- Terminals, Storage And Equipment
- Expansions And Developments
- Multi-Modal Links
- Port Of Rijeka
- Overview
- Terminals, Storage And Equipment
- Expansions And Developments
- Multi-Modal Links
Industry Forecast
- Table: Major Port Data
- Table: Trade Overview
- Table: Key Trade Indicators
- Table: Main Import Partners
- Table: Main Export Partners
Company Profiles
- A.P. MOLLER-MAERSK
- Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- CMA CGM
- Evergreen Line
- Hapag-Lloyd
- Neptune Orient Lines (& APL)
- CSAV Shipping
- China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company
- Hanjin Shipping
- China Shipping (CSCL)
- 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.