The Karachi Port handled 47,194 tonnes of cargo comprising 39,771 tonnes of import cargo and 7,423 tonnes of export cargo including 2,500 loaded & empty containers during the last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Friday. The total import cargo of 39,771 tonnes comprised 25,442 tonnes of containerised cargo; 464 tonnes of general cargo and 13,865 tonnes of coal.

The total export cargo of 7,423 tonnes comprised 6,624 tonnes of containerised cargo; 329 tonnes of general cargo and 470 tonnes of sugar. As many as 2,500 containers comprising 1,920 containers import and 580 containers export were handled during the last 24 hours on Friday.

The brakeup of imported containers shows 572 of 20's and 561 of 40's loaded while 36 of 20's and 95 of 40's empty containers, whereas that of exported containers shows 181 of 20's and 70 of 40's loaded containers while 45 of 20's and 107 of 40's empty containers were handled during the business hours.

There are two container ships namely APL Brisbane and Ital Moderna sailed out to sea during the reported period. There are four vessels viz APL Chicago, West Scent, Marilysav and Hopeful with two container ships, one bulk cargo ship and one general cargo ship respectively are currently at the berths. There are two ships namely Hopeful and Ivory Arrow with one general cargo ship and one vehicle carrier respectively sailed out to sea on Friday. There are four vessels viz Rio Branco, YM North, Zante and Capriole with three container ships and one ethanol tanker respectively due to arrive on Friday, while eight vessels viz Cape Flores, Torm Louise, Densa Jaguar, Lodestar Genesis, Abdullatif S, Dong Qing, Golden Gion and Pacific Wing with one container ship, two mogas tanker, one DAP carrier, one chemical carrier, one project cargo ship, one soda ash carrier and one ethanol tanker respectively are due to arrive on Saturday. A project cargo ship namely Aalborg is due to arrive on Sunday.

PORT QASIMA cargo volume of 75,011 tonnes comprising 62,034 tonnes of import cargo and 12,977 tonnes of export cargo inclusive 1,737 loaded & empty containers (TEUs) was handled at Port Qasim during the last 24 hours on Friday. The total import cargo of 62,034 tonnes includes 42,005 tonnes of furnace oil and 20,029 tonnes of containerised cargo.

The total export cargo includes 12,977 tonnes of containerised cargo. A total number of 1,737 containers comprising 1,054 containers import and 683 containers export were handled during the last 24 hours on Friday. There are two ships namely CV City of Beijing and CV Dubai Express with containers sailed out to sea on Friday morning, while two more ships namely CV NYK Kai and MT Mire with containers and furnace oil are expected to sail on the same day afternoon.

A total number of five vessels viz CV City of Beijing, CV Dubai Express, CV NYK Kai, MV Sai Eternity and MT Mire are currently occupying berths to load/offload containers, wheat and furnace oil respectively during the last 24 hours. As many as four ships namely Al-Abdali, Mire, Beautiful Rena and Al-Soor-II with containers, furnace oil, rice and diesel oil respectively are currently at the outer anchorage of Port Qasim.

There are three vessels viz CV Cape Flores, MV Fredensborg and MV Chemroad Lily with containers, project cargo and phosphoric acid are expected to take berths at Qasim International Containers Terminal, Multi Purpose Terminal and Engro Vopak Terminal respectively on Friday. There were two ships namely CV Clementina and MT Lahore with containers and furnace oil respectively are due to arrive on Saturday.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012