Port of Rotterdam suggests its throughput developed well in the third quarter

Throughput increased for agribulk (+17%), coal (+3%), other dry bulk (+10%), containers (+11%), roll-on/roll-off (+2%) and other general cargo (+24%). Other liquid bulk remained at the same level. Lower amounts of iron ore and scrap (-7%), crude oil (-5%) and mineral oil products (-6%) were loaded and unloaded. Dry bulk handling decreased by 1% to 65m tons and liquid bulk handling dropped by 4% to 149m tons. General cargo throughput rose by more than 10% to 112m tons.

Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: "Throughput developed well in the third quarter, as compared to the first half year and the darkening economic climate. Now all mood indicators are dropping and the world economy is cooling down. Because of that, export is also stalling. Not surprisingly, growth will decrease in the fourth quarter."

In the coal industry, the Port experienced a decrease in the level of coke imports, as steel production was scaled down. However, this was more than compensated for by the larger supply of energy coal for the German power stations.

Throughput of ore and scrap dropped by 6% to 29m tons. The two largest customers, ThyssenKrupp and ArcelorMittal, had already reduced their steel production considerably. This will push the incoming throughput of ore down further in the fourth quarter.

The incoming throughput of crude oil dropped by 5% to just under 71m tons. The decline in the first six months was 8%. Despite the low refining margins in Europe, the strength of the cluster keeps the oil throughput in Rotterdam fairly stable. However, refining capacity has been cut back in other locations (Wilhelmshaven, Marseille, Dunkirk).

The throughput of mineral oil products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil) has also recovered to -5% year-on-year to 54m tons, with respect to the first half year (-9%). The low charter price of very large tankers (VLCCs) makes it rather more lucrative to profit from lower product prices in Asia.

Container throughput increased, both incoming (+13%) and outgoing (+8%). Taken together, 93m tons was handled, 11% more than in the first nine months of 2010. Measured in 20-foot container units, the growth is almost 8%, up to 9 million TEU. The growth in throughput of containers is declining due to the cooling down of the world economy and drop in confidence of consumers and producers. Market signals indicate the traditional autumn peak will be truncated.

Quelle: eyefortransport
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