The maritime passengers traffic fell by 56% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released by the Office of the Merchant Navy and Ports (OMMP) Wednesday.
This caused a 6% fall in the number of vessels, the same source added, pointing to some stability in the traffic of general commodities.
The number of passengers’ vehicles also dropped by 50% in 2020.
Hydrocarbon traffic fell by 3% (mainly at the Skhira port), reaching 7.331 million tons in 2020, against 7.545 million tons in 2019.
The traffic of carriage units also recorded a 6% drop due to measures related to the general lockdown decreed on March-May 2020.
However, the traffic of general commodities was stable, reaching 8.4 million tons in 2020, compared to 8.250 million tons in 2019.
Besides, trade posted a 1% rise to 22.885 million tons, against 22.566 million tons in 2019, not counting hydrocarbons imports through the Skhira port and the paralysis reported in commercial activity at the Gabes port due to protests.
Traffic of solid bulk products grew 15% to 5.347 million tons in 2020, against 4.556 tons in 2019.
The traffic of containers increased by 2% to 483,178 in 2020, against 474,220 in 2019.
