MORE CONTAINERS THROUGH INVESTMENTS AND NEW TRANSPORT SERVICES -- CASE STUDY OF THE PORT OF KOPER.

The growth of container traffic in the Port of Koper as well as the beginning of the constructions on the new container terminal has made the reconstruction and extension of the current container terminal an absolute priority. The extension is in line with the estimated growth of traffic as well as with the exploitation of present and future terminal capacities. The year 2009 was a difficult year for business, especially due to the uncertain international economic situation. The container terminal handled 344,086 TEUs which is 3% less compared to 2008 (358,654 TEUs). In the first nine months of 2010, 16 % more goods were handled in the Port of Koper than in the same period in 2009. The container transport has especially exploded in tons (increase by 45%) as well as in container units (increase by 40%). Within this period they have handled 355,000 TEUs (new record) in the container terminal (214,000 TEUs in the same period on the seventh pier in Trieste). This paper aims to present and analyse the supply chains of the flow of containerised goods through the Port of Koper, the changes which enable this container boom, current state and strategies to handle even more containers in the future, current and future investments in new capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]