AUGUST Asia-Europe container volumes posted a 10 per cent year-on-year increase to 1.3 million TEU, the highest monthly throughput in 2013, according to Container Trades Statistics.

Year-to-date, Asia Europe container volumes were 3.2 per cent higher year on year to 9.4 million TEU. The biggest monthly increase in 2013 came in July when volumes increased 9.5 per cent.

The biggest August gain on Asia-Europe trade lane was posted by Asia-eastern Med/Black Sea run, where volumes soared 17.6 per cent to reach 216,260 TEU. Year-to-date, they were up 11.2 per cent year on year to 1.7 million TEU.

Asia-west Med/North Africa volumes posted a 14.2 per cent increase in August to 219,404 TEU with year-to-date throughput coming in at 1.6 million TEU, up 4.3 per cent year on year.

Nonetheless Asia-Europe volumes for 2013 were still down 1.6 per cent against the highs of 2011 when west Med/North Africa throughput was down 14.3 per cent from the year before.