INVESTORSGUIDE PORTS
3
PIRAEUS PORT
THE PIRAEUS PORT CONNECTIVITY IN THE GLOBAL SEA TRANSPORT NETWORK
T
he recent released data regarding the container throughput at the biggest Greek port, showed a decrease in the container volumes by almost 2,7% mainly due to the global economic environment. In many countries the trade has been severely impacted by the economic conditions which are characterized by increased inflation, reduction in consumption and disturbance in the supply-demand relationship. Despite the economic environment and the reduction in the container throughput, the port of Piraeus maintains its position as a hub in the Mediterranean area, being on the top-5 container ports in Europe and on the top-50 container ports globally. The port is well embedded in the global supply chains and shipping networks. We collected data regarding the container vessel calls at the port of Piraeus, aiming at unveiling elements of port’s connectivity. The port of Piraeus is able to facilitate even the biggest container vessel in the world fleet which is a crucial parameter of port competitiveness and a sign of port embeddedness in the
global shipping networks. Figure 1 shows the biggest container ship calling at the port of Piraeus between 2016 and 2022.
FIGURE 1 – Biggest container vessel calling at the port of Piraeus (TEUs) As shown in figure 1 the port of Piraeus is facilitating the biggest container vessels in the world fleet each year. Examining the vessels port calls directly before and after the port of Piraeus, unveils that in 2022 the biggest Greek port related to 28 countries (two less comparing to 2021), 15 of them being in Europe, 9 Asian countries 3 countries from Africa and one country from North America. The analysis concluded that the port of Piraeus is directly connected with 69 ports around the world (three less ports comparing to 2021). It is worth noted that the port of Piraeus relates to some of the major hub ports in the world like Singapore, Port Klang in Malaysia, Rotterdam and Antwerp. Figure 2 shows the connectivity density of Piraeus port at a country level.
•60•
Article Ports B.indd 2
30/03/2023 2:11 PM