ABP's investments target capacity squeeze at port of Newport.

(From Lloyds List)

GROWING volumes of steel exports, scrap metal and timber imports are putting Newport's handling capacity under pressure, as ABP South Wales' easternmost port emerges as the group's rising star.

ABP has invested GBP800,000 in a new mobile harbour crane at Newport to cope with increased exports of steel coils from its new Corus business.

It is also investing GBP3.5m in infrastructure to support the Sims Group's scrap metal imports through Newport, extending its dedicated berth.

The group has invested an additional GBP4.6m in timber handling at Newport's north dock, after signing a 20-year deal with International Timber, a subsidiary of French multinational the Saint-Gobain Group, to import and process timber through South Wales.

A second company, WestBank Timber, has also set up a timber importing base at Newport.

In August, steel handling company WE Dowds signed a 25 year agreement with ABP to import steel coils through Newport. ABP has invested GBP1.4m in adding 3,000sq metres of extra storage at shed no. 7 to handle projected growth in WE Dowds' steel coil imports. WE Dowds has invested more than GBP1m in cargo handling equipment, gantry cranes and stock management systems at Newport Steel Terminal.