Booming container throughput in the Port of Rotterdam
The port of Rotterdam has had a good year. Led by the container sector, goods throughput rose to a record level. Total cargo throughput rose by 1.3 percent from 461 million to 467 million.
Container throughput grew by 10.9 percent to 13.7 million TEU and, by weight, by 12.3 percent to 142.6 million tonnes and was the main driver of growth in the port of Rotterdam throughout 2017, with the port returning to the growth trend seen before 2016.
The increase in containers was offset by a fall in dry bulk of 2.6 percent and in wet bulk of 4.1 percent. Break bulk (Roll on/Roll off and other break bulk) increased by 7 percent.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority with 1,150 employees booked a turnover of EUR 712.1 million in 2017, an increase of 4.6 percent by comparison with 2016. The Port Authority invested a total of EUR 213.8 million last year, an increase on the investments of EUR 179.8 million in 2016. The high level of investment shall be maintained in the coming year. Important projects include the development of the Hartel Tank Terminal and the changes to the port railway via Thamesweg.
The Port Authority expects the throughput volume to increase further in 2018, with growth in the container sector being lower than the exceptional growth in 2017. However, the port will also be faced with the inevitable challenges in 2018, with preparations for Brexit being one of the most important, emphasised Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.