THE Port of Barcelona's first half container volume increased 18 per cent year on year to 651,000 TEU, largely because of a 42 per cent jump in transshipments, reports London's Container Management magazine. The port's net profit also increased 26.6 per cent year on year to US$32.1 million, drawn on revenues of $100.7 million. Container exports increased 7.5 per cent to 366,000 TEU and imports rose 3.3 per cent to 285,474 TEU. To this, one adds 143,000 cars transported by rail, an increase of 10.6 per cent. Liquid bulk was up 17.3 per cent and short sea shipping volume increased 10.3 per cent. Rail was up 10 per cent year on year to 125,000 TEU. Trading partners included Algeria, whose share of the Barcelona trade increased 57 per cent, the US increased 13 per cent, Turkey was up 6.6 per cent; India, up nine per cent; Mexico, up 12 per cent; Vietnam up 34 per cent while Brazil was up 14 per cent. Said port authority's president Merce Conesa: "Companies around us are increasingly seeking to operate internationally. Barcelona gives them links to a wide range of markets, which makes them more able to compete in the global market."