Investment steels port’s prospects
THE Port of Liverpool has increased the amount of steel volumes it handles by 75% this year following a £1.5m investment in new infrastucture.
The firm has brought in 250,144 tonnes of steel in the year to date, compared with 142,633 for the same period last year.
Operator Peel Ports said that infrastructure investments including a new Liebherr mobile crane, coupled with the creation of a new appointment of a business development manager responsible for metals, Roy Merryweather, had helped to drive up volumes.
Gary Hodgson, managing director of the Port of Liverpool, said: “We are absolutely delighted with our performance in steel volumes this year. When you consider that the UK market indicates 5% growth year on year, then you can see that these results are hugely encouraging .
“This success reflects the total journey economics we can offer importers in that Liverpool offers savings on inbound logistics for all cargos destined for the Midlands and Northwest of the UK.
Merryweather said that he had enjoyed positive feedback from firms in Liverpool and Manchester who had recently begun using the ports.
“The growth in steel volumes has not only been in bulk shipments, but also in containers and as such we have invested in additional handling equipment for de-stuffing steel products out of containers,” he said.
The new Liebherr harbour mobile crane with an 82-tonne capability arrived at the Port of Liverpool in April, taking the total number in Peel Ports’ Mersey fleet to eight.
