Paper exporter backs London Gateway port

The giant London Gateway Port is currently being developed by DP World to the east of London at Corringham, south of the Lakeside Shopping centre. Itwill be the UK’s newest deep-sea container port and is being built alongside Europe’s largest logistics park.

Last month the port operators, who also run the Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, invited exporters to view the development of the new port which will open in the last quarter of 2013 construction started in 2010. It is thought that the port is keen to encourage exporters of recyclables because of the large volumes of containers involved.

Exports

Data for 2012 for the waste paper paper sector shows the importance of the export market with a total of just under two million tonnes of the material exported in the first five months of the year, a figure slightly up in comparison to 2011.

Among the companies visiting the port was Cycle Link (UK), the third largest exporter of cardboard and mixed papers to China. The company has indicated that it will use the new port, especially because it will cut journey time and vehicle emissions being 80-90 miles nearer London than Felixstowe.

Gary Waters, shipping manager for Cycle Link (UK), said: As a recycling company, our commitment to the environment is embedded in our culture. When we visited London Gateway, we recognised the potential to make our business more sustainable by reducing our road transport needs. We export around a large number of containers every week, so anything we can do to reduce road haulage and its environmental impact is a good thing.

Environmental impact

Mr Waters added: We are all about customer care, and recognising the benefits of London Gateways location is one example of how we can help our customers to reduce their own environmental impact.

Cycle Links paper mill in Zhapu, near Shanghai, uses three million tonnes of recycled paper every year and is expected to grow to more than five million by 2015.

And, the company is also keen to serve businesses which will operate from the new logistics park by the port. Patrick Lee, managing director of Cycle Link (UK), said: We will be delighted to offer our services to those customers who establish themselves at the new London Gateway logistics park, as it will only help them too, to become more sustainable. We see significant opportunity to grow our business and we are ahead of the pack.

Closer

Charles Meaby, London Gateways commercial director, commented: London Gateway offers a unique location for many types of importers and exporters to reduce their carbon emissions as they simply will not have to travel as far to reach their port. Its closer, more efficient and more sustainable from London Gateway.

When fully developed, DP World says that theLondon Gateway port will provide the UK “with a new global shipping port as well as Europes largest logistics park covering over 2 square miles of land.”

And, the operator said that the project will create 12,000 direct jobs and over 20,000 indirect jobs. “It will enable the worlds largest container ships to call at the heart of the UK’s economic and population centre.”