JULIEN DUJARDIN (GRAND PORT MARITIME DE LA RÉUNION): “Continue to play in the big leagues”
Extension of land areas, naval repair and deconstruction, long-term strategy: the new president of the board of directors of the Grand Maritime Port of Reunion (GPMDLR), who took office in July, delivers his vision of the future.
The Southern Eco: Coming from Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, you arrive in Port-Réunion after a year of reduced traffic, while the crisis in the Red Sea is taking hold. How do you analyze the situation?
Julien Dujardin: The year 2023 was marked by global economic contraction and a drop in containerized traffic, after two years of post-covid catch-up. Then, the crisis in the Red Sea began to impact us. Traffic via Suez is in sharp decline, companies prefer to go via the Cape of Good Hope between Europe and the Indian Ocean. South African ports are therefore in high demand, which generates, through overflow, additional traffic in Port-Réunion. However, we hope that this context is transitory, but the situation in the Red Sea will not improve immediately and it is not impossible that companies will further develop their service plans.
You are also taking up your duties after a long period of tension on the container grounds. Is Port-Réunion now safe from saturation?
Our space remains quite limited and we are banking on the development of the first six hectares of the rear port area to avoid the return of a delicate situation. The studies are advanced, the work is taking place…This content is reserved for subscribers.I subscribe
