Container handling to stagnate in Rotterdam port
The Port of Rotterdam achieves a record throughput thanks to a growth of 4.9% in 2015
The handling of containers fell by 0.5% to 12.2 million TEU and by 1.1% to 126.3 million tonnes ( weight). The volume of transport to Asia, by far the most comprehensive trade flow throughout 2015, increased by 2%. Container transport to Latin and North America fell. Within Europe, transport to the Iberian Peninsula and Great Britain increased. The strong British economy also played an important role in attracting roll on roll off (Ro/Ro) traffic over the North Sea. An additional factor was that transportation via Calais suffered from strikes, refugee problems and failures in the tunnel under the English Channel. Ro/Ro traffic increased by 10.1% to 22.0 million tonnes.
Other break bulk decreased by 5.5% to 5.7 million tonnes. The main reason was the one-time flow of incoming container cranes in 2014. Together, Ro/Ro and other break bulk make up the category break bulk. This category increased by 6.5%.