ROTTERDAM and Antwerp ports saw their container volumes remain flat in 2012 compared to the previous year with a slight shift from imports to exports.
Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp record flat container traffic in 2012
ROTTERDAM and Antwerp ports saw their container volumes remain flat in 2012 compared to the previous year with a slight shift from imports to exports.
Antwerp suffered a 0.6 per cent year-on-year decline in container traffic during 2012 with a total 8.6 million TEU while Rotterdam was marginally up at 11.9 million TEU.
Said Rotterdam port CEO Hans Smits: "The positive throughput figures for this year do not alter the fact that the profit margins for many companies are under pressure, some businesses are in the red and some are dismissing staff."
London's Containerisation International warned container throughput is set to come under pressure early next year, a development blamed shipping alliances removing vessels from the Asia-Europe trade until the Chinese New Year from February 10.