It is reported that imports at the Zonguldak and Ereğli ports declined more than USD 904.23 million in 2009 compared to a year earlier. Exports at the ports followed a similar trend declining USD 469.6 million during the same period.

Both harbors are ports for Ro-Ro boats as well as cargo, coal and fuel boats. Also due to the fact that the ports are close to Ereğli Demir & Çelik as well as Kardemir hot items on the ports’ export lists include iron and steel products, cement, plaster as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Among the hot import items are coal, rolled metal sheet, cement and timber.

Imports at the 2 ports totaled USD 2.57 billion in 2008. That declined to USD 1.66 billion in 2009. Exports from the ports, which used to be USD 1.28 billion in 2008 declined to USD 812 million in 2009.

The number of ships stopping at the ports was 785 in 2008. That figure rose to 795 last year. The number of tractor trailers was 9,961 and rose to 10,145 last year. On the other hand, the number of ships leaving the port dropped and the tractor trailers leaving the ports totaled only 9,205 last year.

(Sourced from Anatolia News Agency)