New finished vehicle traffic at the Spanish north-western port of Vigo increased by 13% in the first ten months of this year, while car components have gone up by 10.5%, during which time the port has consolidated its position as a major Atlantic hub.
On November 25, the dedicated ro-ro terminal simultanenously handled no fewer than five vessels carrying finished vehicles, effectively meaning it was operating at full capacity. Nearly 6,200 cars were involved, along with 81 trucks and more than 100 trailers, semi-trailers and terminal tractors, amounting to some 12,000 tons of goods worth an estimated €65m ($89m).
Given its local presence, PSA Peugeot Citroën generated most movements, totalling 3,294 vehicles, followed by Ford with 1,288, and the balance made up by Renault, Toyota, Fiat, Opel and Mitshubishi. In addition to cars, 80 trucks were loaded along with around 30 trailers and semi-trailers.
Significantly, 4,750 units were being exported through Vigo, against 1,369 imported. Most of the outbound cars were bound for destinations such as Algeria, Bremerhaven, Casablanca, Saint Nazaire, Southampton and Zeebrugge, as well as to various countries in South America, including Brazil.
The vessel Morning Menad, handled by Bergé Marítima, arrived from Turkey, offloading 1,330 vehicles, being a mix of units built by Citröen, Ford, Renault, Toyota and Fiat; it then took on board 1,018 cars (Citröen, Mitshubishi and Toyoya), seven trailers and four tractor units bound for the ports of Bremenhaven, Zeebrugge and Portbury.
UECC’s M/V Opal Leader, inbound from Libya, loaded 638 Ford vehicles bound for Southampton in the UK.
Meanwhile, Mitsui OSK Line’s Firmament Ace arrived from Zeebrugge, taking on board 1,505 vehicles (Citroën, Fiat and Opel) as well as 80 trucks en route to Brazil and other countries in South America.
The other two vessels – L’Audace and Suar Vigo – were operated by Vapores Suardíaz. The latter, which opertes the Vigo-Saint Nazaire route, disembarked 27 units from Citroën, along with 50 semi-trailers and seven tractor/trailer units. It then loaded 890 Citroën and Renault cars, 21 semi-trailers and 15 tractors bound for France. For its part, L’Audace had come from Zeebrugge, offloading 12 Ford cars and machinery, but it loaded 700 units built at the local PSA Peugeot Citrën plant and two tractors, which were to be delivered in Algeria and Casablanca.
