Port of Rotterdam reports growth with 5.1% in first quarter 2019

Port of Rotterdam figures show substantial container volume increase

In the first quarter of 2019, 5.1% more freight passed through the Port of Rotterdam than in the same period last year. In total, 123.9 million tonnes were handled compared with 117.8 million tonnes in the same period in 2018. The increase mainly concerned the throughput of containers (+7.3% in TEU, +5.9% in tonnes) and fuels. Mineral oil products, iron ore and scrap throughput fell.

Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority: ‘We had an excellent start to 2019 with record throughput volumes in the first quarter. The quarterly figures also confirm that Rotterdam is again strengthening its position as storage and transport hub for containers and LNG. For the whole year, we are adhering to our forecast that throughput volumes will increase slightly in 2019.

Port of Rotterdam containers throughput up with 5.9%

Container throughput increased 5.9% by weight to 38.0 million tonnes and 7.3% by volume to 3.7 million TEU (the standard unit for containers). This growth is a continuation of the significant increase realised last year and is mainly a consequence of a sharp rise in transhipment volumes originating in Asia with destinations elsewhere in Europe.

The shipping companies operating in three large alliances in Rotterdam view Rotterdam as an important hub in their networks, which means an increased concentration of freight throughput in Rotterdam. This resulted in feeder tonnage continuing to increase significantly by 15.1% to 7.3 million tonnes. Feeder vessels transport containers with intercontinental cargo to and from other ports that are not visited directly by intercontinental (‘deep sea’) services.

An increasing exchange is also taking place in Rotterdam between deep sea services, which enable shipping companies to offer their clients more combinations between loading and unloading ports in Asia and Europe. Short sea throughput, the intra-European transport, fell by 7.8% to 6.9 million tonnes due to reduced trade with Russia and lower volumes to the United Kingdom in January and February. An enlarged imbalance between Asia and Europe is resulting in significant increases in empty container throughput, leading to TEU growth being considerably higher than tonnage growth.

RoRo and other breakbulk show 9.2% increase

The total throughput in the breakbulk segment (Roll-on/Roll-off and other cargo) increased by 9.2% to 7.9 million tonnes. RoRo traffic increased by 10.7% to 6.4 million tonnes compared with the first quarter of last year. Volumes increased particularly significantly in March, with the stockpiling of supplies in connection with a possible hard Brexit. Throughput of other breakbulk rose by 3.1% to 1.5 tonnes.