TRAFFIC WITHIN THE PORT OF TRIESTE ACHIEVED 41,460,241 TONS IN 1996

Overall maritime traffic of goods in 1996 yielded the following results: an increase of 14.57% in traffic within the Commercial Port with 9,187,070 tons handled in 1996 against 8,018,471 tons in 1995. The upward trend affected both goods carried by traditional vessels (+13.15%) and specialized traffic (+16.57%). Favourable results were achieved in general cargo and traffic such as food, chemical products and machinery.

There was growth in the following group of commodities: solid fuels 4,478,908 tons (+11.38%), wood-pulp and cardboard 361,242 tons (+18.00%), machines and engines 276,150 tons (+50.21%), yarn and textiles 242,556 (+12.09%), chemical products 233.417 tons (+13.97%), timber and woodwork 233.314 tons (+3.15%), foodstuffs 223,808 tons (+30.26%), vehicles and parts 190,746 (+34.51%), metals and alloys 187,329 tons (+53.57%), cereals 156,825 tons (+59.85%).

1996 saw a good trend in specialized traffic. Container traffic increased by 16.65 in the number of TEUs handled (176,939) thanks both to the new shipping lines which have been in operation since the beginning of the year and to a good trend of the market in North-East Italy. The main routes were those for the Far East with 57,444 TEUs (+16.68%), South and South East Asia with 47,198 TEUs (+23.13%) and the Near East with 29,862 TEUs (+18.38%).

In the Customs Port (stazione marittima) ferry traffic to and from Greece showed the following results: 106,609 passengers (+29.70%) with 33,455 passengers' cars, 7,643 trucks (+56.01%) with 231,436 tons of transported goods.

After the market fall in 1995, industrial traffic in 1996 showed an increase of +8.39% with differen trends in the different terminals. The amount of goods discharged at the Ironworks of Servola amounted to almost 30 million tons; the terminal at the Ironworks of Servola recorded an increase of raw material to be discherged and finished products to be loaded. Howevwe, although the negative trend has been inverted with substantial recovery of the activity, the Ironworks of Servola are affected by the uncertainties due to the general crisis of the iron and steel industry.

There was also a decrease in the amount of goods handled by the structures of the Zaule canal and the Mineral Oil Free Zone.

The terminals showed the following trend:

S.I.O.T. +6.33%

Ironworks of Servola +163.63%

Mineral Oil Fee Zone -23.81%

Industrial Port (Zaule) -16.83%

In general, traffic within the port of Trieste achieved the record of 41,460,241 tons with an increase equal to 9.88%.