In a context of “geopolitical instability”, the port of Marseille-Fos recorded a drop in its overall traffic in 2023, but is continuing its “
transition
” towards decarbonization thanks to “
record investments
”, he announced THURSDAY.
The port's turnover stood at 210.5 million euros, an increase of 10.8% compared to last year, despite a clear decline in overall tonnage, which fell to 72 million tonnes ( Mt) after the post-pandemic rebound last year (77 Mt), detailed the chairman of the board Hervé Martel during a press conference.
“
This is significant of the transition that ports are experiencing today
,” noted Hervé Martel, according to whom “
traffic is not everything
.”
“
The international context is marked by geopolitical instability
,” declared Christophe Castaner, president of the port supervisory board, to explain the drop in traffic.
He spoke of the “
dizziness that we must face”
: war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates, real estate tensions in China...
Container traffic particularly affected
The situation in the Red Sea, where Yemen's Houthi rebels are attacking the commercial fleet in the name of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza,
"does not have a massive effect on the flows, but if it continues there will be some
. "
recognized Christophe Castaner.
Container traffic (-11%) is among those which declined the most in 2023, as does solid bulk traffic (-24%), the latter being notably weighed down by the shutdown of a blast furnace at the ArcelorMittal factory in Fos-sur-Mer.
Liquid bulk traffic is in “
perfect stability ”, noted Hervé Martel, after a “
difficult
” start to the year
marked by social movements in the depots and refineries of Fos-sur-Mer due to opposition to pension reform.
The passenger sector is the only one to show excellent form, with a 36% jump in the number of passengers in 2023, for a total of more than 4 million people.
The cruise activity, with 2.5 million passengers, is experiencing an increase of 76%, the port having hosted 626 stopovers in 2023 compared to 573 in 2022.
Read alsoPort of Marseille-Fos: return to “good results” in 2022
Strongly growing investments
Investments are in “
strong growth
” of 27%, for an amount of 76 million euros compared to 60 million euros last year, and the port plans an investment budget of 118 million euros for 2024, including 57 million euros for the development of the ecological transition and decarbonization.
The port of Fos-Marseille will continue to advance several projects linked to the ecological transition in 2024: construction of photovoltaic panel factories, production of low-carbon pre-reduced iron, hydrogen by water electrolysis and even offshore wind turbines.