Importer To Invest £7m In New Liverpool Bulk Handling Facility

Newport Industries is set to invest £7m in the creation of a new bulk handling facility at the Port of Liverpool, to service increased demand from its North West customer base.

The facility at Canada Branch Dock will allow the global firm – which specialises in importing dry bulk chemicals to the glass, adhesive, detergents, chemicals and feed industries – to meet increasing demand.

Newport Industries has been a customer at Peel Ports’ Runcorn Docks site since 2009. Its partnership with Peel Ports has seen the company grow bulk volumes handled through Runcorn by 200% in five years.

Investing in a new Liverpool-based facility, will allow Newport Industries to take advantage of a purpose built facility with direct deep water access. By continuing operating from its existing site at Runcorn Docks, it will create an all water ‘highway’ into the manufacturing heartland of the UK, via the Manchester Ship Canal – reducing costs and CO2 emissions.

When Peel Ports’ £300m deep water container terminal Liverpool2 is completed later this year, it will open future opportunities for Newport Industries to tap into far eastern markets, potentially facilitating direct calls for large container ships to and from China.

Liverpool2 will enable the port to handle the largest container ships in the global fleet, while at the same time doubling its container capacity to 1milllion TEU.

Construction of the new bulk handling facility will be completed in several phases. The first phase, which includes the construction of a pneumatic ship discharger and two silos, is expected to be delivered by autumn 2016. The further construction of an additional four silos and a pallet warehouse will be completed by 2018.