Official data from Latakia International Container Terminal, issued in recent days, showed volumes in the first six months of the year fell to 217,386 TEUs, versus 275,264 TEUs in the same period last year. That compared with 293,111 TEUs in 2010. Maersk, CMA CGM and Hamburg-Sud call on the port.
Ship container volumes at Syria’s biggest terminal Latakia have dropped over 20 percent in the past six months year-on-year as growing turmoil hampers trade even for basic goods including food, trade sources say.
Syrian rebels on Thursday kept up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad following the assassination of three top lieutenants, fighting loyalist troops within sight of the presidential palace and near government headquarters in Damascus, residents said.
“Given the growing turmoil, it is surprising that volumes are not even lower. Syria is facing growing problems sourcing even basic items such as sugar, which are transported in containers,” a Middle East based trader said.
Containers also carry household items including canned foods and clothing.