Ports firm Haropa eager to expand in China

French firm Haropa - the group which combines the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris - is eager to expand its business in China and to cooperate more closely with Chinese customers.

Haropa, which was set up in early 2012, is participating in the three-day transport and logistics exhibition held at the Shanghai New International Expo center to present its offers to Chinese companies, said Christian Leroux, chairman of the French Port Users Federation.

"We hope to seek more customers to increase our market share in China," Leroux said.

Container trade with Asia accounted for 66 percent of Haropa's turnover in 2011, with China taking up 35 percent of that figure, he said. Leroux added that Haropa saw a 14 per cent increase in its business with China last year.

"We want to meet our Asian partners directly at the exhibition and talk with them about the solutions offered in terms of cargo flow facilitation, connections, speed and flexibility of services," he said.

The French group - which combines the strategy, networks, sales and communication teams of the three ports - aims to compete with its rivals in the Chinese market. It handled around 130 million tons of maritime and river trade last year, including manufactured articles, furniture, clothes, shoes, food products, chemicals, wines, spirits, perfumes, cereals, paper and plastics.

Wine trade with China grew 39 per cent in 2011, while spirits trade increased 33 per cent.

"China has become an important market for French wines and spirits with its growth rate continuing to increase this year," said Herve Martel, chairman of the Management Board of Le Havre.

chenqide@chinadaily.com.cn