Port of Rotterdam: Containers up by 4 per cent

Slight increase in throughput: Over the last three quarters, the port of Rotterdam handled 0.3% more cargo than the same period last year

“With the exception of a few sectors, the port is doing pretty well. Particularly striking is the 4% increase in containers. After March, even as high as an average 6%. This makes it even clearer that we badly need the new terminals on Maasvlakte 2 if we are to achieve further growth. The increase of no less than 31% in the handling of other mixed cargo is also noteworthy. However mineral oil products in particular, at -11%, are considerably down on last year”, according to Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO.

Container traffic increased (+4%), despite congestion on the Maasvlakte this summer, as a result of which a number of ships were diverted to Antwerp. During the first two months of the year, container throughput lagged behind. Between March and the end of September, however, throughput was on average 6% higher than last year. The tentative economic recovery is the main reason for these positive figures.

Container traffic consists of the deep sea sector (to and from other continents, +6%), feeder traffic (the pre-transport and post-transport of deep sea containers, -2%) and short sea (departure point and destination within Europe, +4%). There was a slight fall in the handling of cargo from the Far East in the third quarter, partly due to the diversion of ships to Antwerp, whilst cargo to and from North and South America increased.

In 2013, Rotterdam lost feeder cargo destined for the Baltic to Hamburg. This has now largely returned to Rotterdam, due to congestion in Hamburg, but also because shipping companies are switching cargo to Rotterdam in anticipation of the opening of terminals on Maasvlakte 2. The strong British economy is largely responsible for the growth in short sea traffic.

Roll-on/roll-off traffic was also up (+8%), thanks to the recovery of the British economy. Other mixed cargo, a sector into which the port puts a lot of effort because it yields relatively high added value, increased very strongly (+31%), partly because more steel passed through the port and more cargo for the offshore industry was handled.

www.portofrotterdam.com

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com