Global shipping continues to grow in terms of tonnage: +3.4% estimated for 2022. The fleet has increased by +2.9% according to the “Port Infographics” newsletter published today by Assoporti and Srm (a research center linked to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group).
Internationally, MENA (Middle East & North Africa) ports are continuing to make progress in terms of competitiveness and appeal. The LSCI (Liner Shipping Connectivity Index) has gained over 30 points since 2006. The gap with northern European ports of call has been steadily narrowing.
As far as Italy is concerned, the editors of the study point out that international trade continues to be highly “dependent” on the sea. One third of the imports and exports of all Italian regions takes place by ship. In Southern Italy this figure becomes almost 60%. After the generalized downturn of -17% in 2020, the first 6 months of 2021 show clear signs of improvement, with +33%.
SRM points out that in the first 9 months of 2021 the goods throughput in Italian ports exceeded 345 million tonnes, equivalent to a tendential growth of 10%. Ro-Ro traffic registered the highest increase at +19%.
Nine Italian regions recorded over 8 billion euros in imports and exports by sea, with Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna at the top of the list. Sicily and Campania are in the lead in Southern Italy.
According to the editors of the study, 2021 has increasingly highlighted the fragility of global supply chains. Soaring freight rates characterize shipping on all major routes: as of the third quarter of 2021, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index registers +255% compared to 2020.
The level of quality of containerized transportation services is down: as of November 2021, only 34% of ships arrived on time at the destination port with an average delay of 7.3 days.
In addition, the phenomenon of empty containers “stressed” by Far East export markets is still continuing. After the major crisis at the end of 2020, the Shanghai Container Availability Index in November 2021 still indicates a structural shortage of containers on strategic route.
Translation by Giles Foster
