Le Havre sees progressive and consistent upturn

Taking into account the lower level of business during 2009 and the implementation of port reform policy in France, the 1.8m teu containers handled by the end of this month (September) will be an estimated 8% rise compared with the same period last year.

Use of the Seine artery for barge transport to Rouen and Paris, along with the establishment of the Gron and Evry waterway hub terminals, has resulted in one-in-five containers being carried by water between the port and the Paris area. This has brought about a 16% rise in full import/export ‘hinterland’ containers.

In common with other ports in the North-European range, Le Havre believes that this overall rise in trade more or less cancels out the effect of the 2009 drop in traffic and makes possible a recovery to 2008 levels.