Busan boosted by Maersk and decision to container tax.

A 6.8% year-on-year throughput increase in January is just the start of full-year growth at Busan, thanks to the decision to scrap a container tax late last year, Busan Port Authority said.

The port had charged US$20/teu since 1992, and although it was only abolished on Dec 31, BPA said it believed the reduced logistics cost was the biggest factor in the port? record January throughput of 1.038 million TEU.

Exports increased 14.6%, to 277,865 TEU, while import cargo reached 301,586 TEU, up 9.6%.

Transhipments increased 1.8%, to 437,758 TEU, indicating a constant increase since October last year, when Maersk Line increased weekly calls at Busan from five to nine.

With shipping lines now having finished reorganising their transhipment ports, BPA said it expected no cargo exodus to other ports.