Tema, May 6, GNA - Ghana in 2008 recorded over 14.5 million tons in maritime trade, representing a 10 percent increase over the 13.2 million tons handled by the country's seaports in 2007. Out of the total, the Tema port had a seven percent increase in its 9.8 million tons trade recorded as against the 9.1 million tons in 2007. The Takoradi port also recorded 4.6 million tons during the period, representing a 14 percent increase over the 4 million tons handled in 2007.

This was contained in a copy of the 'Shipping Review' made available to the Ghana News Agency in Tema by the Ghana Shippers Council. National import trade outstripped the national export trade in 2008 as import trade amounted to 10.8 million tons while that of export totalled 3.7 million tons.

While the import figure represented 16 percent increase in 2008 as compared to the 9.3 million tons obtained in 2007, there was a six percent decrease in the country's export trade as a total of 3.9 million tons of exports was recorded by the sector in 2007. The document showed that the highest of the country's import tonnage came from the Far East where over 3.5 million tons of cargo, representing over 32 percent of total import was recorded. It stated that 24 percent of the total import came from the Africa range of which dry bulk import contributed the highest percentage of 86 to the range's tonnage.

Fifty-five percent of Ghana's total export for the year 2008 made up of 77 dry bulk, 22 percent liner and one percent liquid bulk trades went to the North Continent range.

The Far East also received over 670,766 tons of Ghana's export while the Mediterranean range took 394,634 tons, North America and United Kingdom received 146,869 and 132,680 tons of export items respectively. 06 May 09