UK port and terminal operator Peel Ports Group is expanding its steel and metals terminal at the Port of Liverpool in response to increased client demand.
Peel Ports began construction of the 1,858 m² extended warehouse at its North 3 Canada Dock in the current year.
The investment comes as the Port of Liverpool saw one of its busiest months for steel volumes in September, with over 75,000 tonnes handled by employees throughout the port and Birkenhead Docks.
"This positive news led to us choosing to increase the size of our facility, which offers customers the chance to expand their capacity, as well as improving our handling facilities at the port," noted Phil Hall, Mersey Ports director at Peel Ports Group.
He further added, "Given the benefits of the Port of Liverpool’s central location and its proximity to UK manufacturing sites, we believe this will be a very important and worthwhile investment."
September was the port's strongest month for steel in more than two years, since July 2021 when 93,000 tonnes were processed.
An initial area of around 740 m² of the newly developed warehouse space is now in use, while a second phase of development work to build an additional 1,110 m² of the terminal is currently underway and expected to be finished in December.
The site currently includes 26,010 m² of internal storage and 9,290 m² of external footage. It now has a total throughput capacity of in excess of 600,000 tonnes annually.
The facility was once the UK’s first fully-automated steel terminal following a ΓΒ£9 million (US$11 million) upgrade in 2016.
Peel Ports said that real time stock availability, precision coil selection and a vehicle booking system have minimised back office processing and paperwork, handling, as well as haulier turn-around time since its completion.
