Data released by the company on the web site of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange shows the biggest growth was recorded in the container division, with volume transshipment up 18% to 5.1m tonnes

The company handled 510,265 container units (TEUs) in the January-September period, up 15% year-on-year, with revenue in the division increasing by 33% to EUR 37.13m.

The growth is due to the seabed dredging project completed in the summer.

Chairman Dragomir Matić noted that the project, which enables the docking of deeper draught vessels, was a key competitive improvement in recent years.

The port also obtained new storage facilities at the front of pier I, expanding the terminal's annual capacity to 850,000 from 750,000 TUEs.

Car transshipment rose by 10% to 548,435 tonnes, or by 7% to 373,070 cars.

Transshipment of liquid cargo also increased, by 9% to 2.26m tonnes, while a fall of 1% to 1.21m tonnes was recorded in general cargo and a 11% fall in bulk cargo to 4.76m tonnes.

As of new year, the port will get a third direct route to Southeast Asia, which Matić expects will make it even more attractive to cargo owners.