H1 in Containers

In terms of the volume of container transshipments in Polish ports, the first half of this year differs little from the first half of last year. Total transshipments amounted to 1.6 million TEUs and were 1% higher than in the same period of 2021. However, the achieved result could differ significantly at individual terminals. What is worrisome is that in most months the performance of the terminals was lower than a year ago, and the positive result was earned on single large increases in selected months.

Turnover was shaped by two main factors. The first, which has been going on for many months, is congestion at ports, including in Western Europe, which causes delays in some calls to Polish terminals. The second factor is the ongoing war in Ukraine since February. As a result, Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea are inaccessible and some goods are transported through Polish ports. As a result of the sanctions imposed on Russia, most connections to Russian ports have also been severed, which has a two-fold impact on Polish ports. On the one hand, some of the vessels that entered the Baltic Sea and called at both Polish and Russian ports are currently finishing their cruise in Germany, while on the other hand, at least in the initial period, some of the goods that were supposed to go to Russia went there through our ports. Maritime connections between Poland and Russia have also been severed, which may reflect negatively on the volume of business of those terminals that handled connections to that country. Terminal performance in the second half of the year may be weighed down by the downturn caused by the large increase in inflation and the consequent reduction in consumption opportunities for individual customers.

DCT saw an increase in transshipments of almost 3% to 1.07 million TEUs. The increase in transshipments for the entire six months was affected by large increases in only 2 months. In February, transshipments were 14% higher than last year, and in March they were 19% higher. In other months, turnover was lower than in the same periods last year, but the differences were not as great as in these 2 months. On the other hand, transshipments at the Szczecin quay of the Gdansk port have almost completely ceased. The 845 TEU result represents an 85% decrease compared to last year. Comparing the monthly volume of transshipments in the first quarter, the turnover was above 160 TEUs – the highest in March was 232 TEUs, and in the second quarter, not once did it exceed the 100 TEU level – 88 TEUs in April, 98 TEUs in May and 71 TEUs in June.

At BCT in Gdynia, on the other hand, turnover in the past six months amounted to 283,000 TEUs, 3% higher than in the same period last year. The decisive month for the increase was April, when transshipments were 25% higher than last year. A better result was also recorded in February, up 7%. In other months, transshipments were lower than in the same months last year.

For BCT, the important month of the first half of the year was undoubtedly June. This month, driving along Kwiatkowski Estakada near the Port of Gdynia, one could see a yard filled with American military equipment. Indeed, it was the largest transshipment of U.S. Army equipment in the history of the Port of Gdynia, including trucks and some 1,500 pieces of military equipment and about 500 containers.

The second GCT terminal in Gdynia handled 4.5% less cargo than in the same period last year, resulting in nearly 193,000 TEUs. A better result than last year was recorded in May, up 14%, and March, up 1%. In other months, turnover was lower, from 2% in January to 20% in June.

OT Port Gdynia, the smallest terminal in Gdynia, handled 939 TEUs in the past six months. This is 9% lower than last year’s figure.

At the DB Port Szczecin terminal, on the other hand, transshipments in the first half of the year totaled 35,000 TEUs. This is 15% worse than last year’s result, which is a consequence of the terminal’s lower turnover than last year in all months. The biggest drop in turnover was in June, down 30%, and the smallest in February, down 2.5%. In terms of transshipment volume, DB Port Szczecin achieved its best result in March, with 6,700 TEUs, and its worst in June, with 5,000 TEUs.

Comparing the share of individual terminals in transshipments in H1 of this year and last year, one can see a 1 percentage point increase in the share of Poland’s largest terminal, DCT Gdańsk, from 67% to 68%. The largest terminal in Gdynia, BCT, also saw its share increase by 1 p.p., from 17% to 18%. However, GCT and DB Port Szczecin lost 1% each – from 13 to 12% and 3 to 2%, respectively.

Article developed with Namiary na Morze i Handel magazine

phot. Namiary na Morze i Handel magazine