The development follows a 36% increase in freight volumes handled through the terminal in 2016.
Tibbett Logistics projects further volume growth of up to 30% this year among established key clients – with a major German multinational retailer already adding substantial increases in container volumes in the first quarter.
Tibbett Logistics, together with the owner of the P3 industrial park containing BIRFT, have advanced plans for the phase-three extension of the terminal platform later this year. This will add another 10,000 sq metres of storage, mainly for empty containers, increasing BIRFT’s capacity and handling efficiency.
The principal driver of BIRFT’s recent growth has been imports of maritime containers through the Port of Constanta on Romania’s Black Sea coast. These contain primarily general merchandise for the retail sector plus parts and raw materials for automotive industry.
The increasing volumes at BIRFT have led Tibbett Logistics to raise its block train frequency to five a week in the final quarter of 2016 – a level that is being maintained in 2017.
Tibbett Logistics’ CEO, David Goldsborough, said: “The addition of the third Kalmar reachstacker at BIRFT and the extension of the terminal platform – both coming online this summer – are further signs of our commitment to the Romanian marketplace, and specifically the development of intermodal road-rail transport services. We continue to grow at an impressive rate year-on-year through the addition of new customers and from the growth in volumes of existing customers – confirmation of the reliability and efficiency of our services.”
Tibbett Logistics specialises in providing intermodal logistics and extensive supply chain management services to the automotive, DIY, food & grocery, textiles, retail and other FMCG sectors across Romania and elsewhere in South East Europe. In addition to operating a total of over 100,000 sq metres of warehousing at 13 locations and employing 1250 FTEs, the company has a distribution fleet comprising tilt trailers, double- and triple-chamber reefers and container chassis – along with its own intermodal rail wagons. (source: Tibbett Logistics)
