Port of Dunkerque reported a three percent bounce in annual traffic compared to 2018, with growth over the last five years measuring in at 22 percent.

In the container sector, the significant increase in volumes handled at Dunkerque-Port is also in line with the trend observed in recent years (450,000 TEU, + 7% / 2018 & + 54% / 2013).

General cargo remained almost stable at 20.1 MT. There was a downturn in Cross-Channel traffic (15 MT) as the market prepares for Brexit: the number of trucks and trailers decreased by 2% to 583,000 freight units while that of passenger cars stood at 579,000 vehicles (-16%). Passenger traffic dropped 11% to 2,341,000 travellers. Containers again posted a record year at 450,000 TEU, up 7%. The increase is due in particular to Dunkerque's positioning as a transhipment hub . Break-bulk cargo posted good figures (1.2 MT, + 9%).

Solid bulk was down 9% to stand at 23.5 MT. The economic downturn currently affecting the European steel industry is weighing on the ore and coal traffic which fell by 10% and 19% respectively to 13.3 MT and 5.3 MT. The coal sector is also undergoing the more structural effect of the drop in demand for steam coal. Boosted by a good start to the 2019/2020 campaign grain trading posted a significant increase of 43% at 2 MT. Traffic in “small” solid bulk fell 9% (2.9 MT)

Liquid bulk rose very sharply by 71% to 9.4 MT, driven by a very high level of LNG trading. The new LNG terminal berthed 72 port calls over the full year representing a total traffic of 5.1 MT (+ 320%). Overall, gas traffic (LNG + industrial gas) posted a gain of 232% at 5.6 MT. Petroleum products were down 2% at 3.34 MT, while other liquid bulk posted growth of 4% to stand at 0.5 MT.