Low waters, but many containers
In 2022, container throughput at the Swiss Rhine Ports (SRH) in Basel showed a result comparable to the previous year, while the total volume of 4.6 million t was almost 15% below the level of 2021 (5.4 million t).
The decline in imports of mineral oil products (-29%), market distortions in the energy sector and the long period of low water in the summer all left their mark on traffic through the ports. Fortunately, the container segment was able to benefit from high demand, especially in H1/2022, and closed with over 125,500 teu, almost at the previous year's level.
Import or uphill traffic in all three ports Muttenz-Au, Birsfelden and Port Kleinhüningen - clearly the more important of the two sectors with just under 3.7 million t - fell by almost 17% compared to 2021, while export or downhill traffic declined by just under 5%, posting a volume of 878,000 t.
The low cargo handling results in the summer (low water) were almost fully offset by a strong H1/2022 and catch-up traffic in late autumn. (sh)