River attraction for Cemex

Building materials company 643 Cemex uses river freight for 48% of its shipments on a tonnes-per-kilometre basis in France.

According to the company, river freight is more economical as a truck carries an average of 27tonnes over 40km, while a cargo convoy can carry up to 5,000tonnes over 130km. Transportation accounts for 20-30% of the cost of delivered construction materials, rising to 50% or more for 100% road haulage.

Cemex transports up to 3.5 million tonnes of materials by river, mainly in the Paris area, and has its own satellite-tracked fleet of 80 barges and 12 barge-pushers, three of which can push a load weighing up to 5,000tonnes. It also enlists external boat companies on renewable three-month contracts, according to fluctuations in demand.

Cemex also has around ten ports of its own, leased from the 4536 Paris Port Authority, and it now wants to expand its river freight activity on the Rhône river via a partnership with the public waterway authority (VNF) and 4538 Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR).

The aim is to transport 500,000-1 million tonnes more river freight by 2021.