Container volume of Rotterdam port decreases by 13%

The amount of cargo handled in the port of Rotterdam decreased by 11.9% to 283 million tonnes in the first nine months of this year. Almost every type of cargo displayed negative growth: iron and scrap metal (-56%), agribulk (-18%), coal (-17%), other dry bulk (-19%), crude oil (-7%), other liquid bulk (-19%), containers (-12%), roll on/roll off (-13%), and other general cargo (-23%). Only petroleum products showed growth, and strong growth at that, increasing by 21% to 22 million tonnes.

As a result, the total throughput of liquid bulk remained virtually constant at 147 million tonnes. Dry bulk throughput decreased sharply, shedding a third to 46 million tonnes. General cargo came somewhere between, with a decrease of 12% to 89 million tonnes.

The amount of container cargo handled, declined with 12% to 73 million tonnes. In numbers: -13% to 7.2 million TEU. Rotterdam is feeling the effects of the overall decrease in container transport. The rationalization of the Asia services in particular has affected the port much less, and ‘feedering’ is experiencing a healthy growth. Roll-on/roll-off transport forfeited 13% to 12 million.

When an improvement will be seen depends on when the British economy recovers. The negative effect of the weak pound, meaning fewer imports, will continue for now. The amount of cargo under the category other general cargo decreased -23% to 4.4 million tonnes. This is thanks to extra imports of aluminum via Steinweg Handelsveem. In general, the emphasis remains on steel and non-ferrous metals – the lion’s share of ‘other general cargo’ remains in storage. It is expected that growth in throughput will only return after economic recovery.

The CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Hans Smits, responded to the figures saying, "There is still a hefty decrease in terms of percentages, but the trend curve has started turning slightly upwards again since July. On balance, this means a stabilization in throughput. This corresponds to expectations from halfway through the year, according to which the prognosis for the whole year is a decrease in throughput of approximately 10%."<Korea Shipping Gazette>