Rotterdam Port Authority said turnover last year remained fairly stable at EUR675.4 million (US$719 million) and with costs control profit increased by 5 per cent to EUR222.2 million.
The fall in freight volume was due to dry bulk such as ores and coal. Liquid bulk managed to hold on to the high level reached in 2015. At the time the sector was growing by overt 10 per cent.
Container throughput in the second half of the year was up by 4.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. More cargo was shipped to and from the Far East and North America, but less went to South America. Within Europe, both feeder traffic and short sea traffic between Rotterdam and Britain, Ireland, Spain and Portugal increased. At the same time, container traffic to the ScanBaltic shipping area decreased, mainly due to the weak Russian economy.
In the second half of the year, the two new container terminals at Maasvlakte 2 underwent strong growth. In the first half of the year they jointly handled 0.6 million TEU, rising to 1.1 million TEU in the second half of the year. As in previous years, Rotterdam's share of the market in de Hamburg-Le Havre range was around 30 per cent.
This year has seen a fair number of shifts in the partnerships between the major container lines. From April 1, these alliances will operate under new sailing schedules.
Said Allard Castelein, the authority's CEO: "After exceptional 4.9 per cent growth in 2015, we have to be content that most sectors have been able to equal or even slightly exceed these volumes in 2016. The Rotterdam port and industrial complex is facing huge challenges, in particular digitisation and energy transition as well as stiff competition from surrounding ports. Divergent trends provide reassurance that the complex can handle these challenges, such as the major investments in various refineries, a number of projects that should shape energy transition and the new container line sailing schedules that are favourable to Rotterdam."
The Port Authority expects throughput volume in 2017 to remain at a comparable level to that of 2016. Container handling is expected to continue on an upward trend. It is uncertain whether the other sectors will equal the 2016 results, the port authority said.
The fall in freight volume was due to dry bulk such as ores and coal. Liquid bulk managed to hold on to the high level reached in 2015. At the time the sector was growing by overt 10 per cent.
Container throughput in the second half of the year was up by 4.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. More cargo was shipped to and from the Far East and North America, but less went to South America. Within Europe, both feeder traffic and short sea traffic between Rotterdam and Britain, Ireland, Spain and Portugal increased. At the same time, container traffic to the ScanBaltic shipping area decreased, mainly due to the weak Russian economy.
In the second half of the year, the two new container terminals at Maasvlakte 2 underwent strong growth. In the first half of the year they jointly handled 0.6 million TEU, rising to 1.1 million TEU in the second half of the year. As in previous years, Rotterdam's share of the market in de Hamburg-Le Havre range was around 30 per cent.
This year has seen a fair number of shifts in the partnerships between the major container lines. From April 1, these alliances will operate under new sailing schedules.
Said Allard Castelein, the authority's CEO: "After exceptional 4.9 per cent growth in 2015, we have to be content that most sectors have been able to equal or even slightly exceed these volumes in 2016. The Rotterdam port and industrial complex is facing huge challenges, in particular digitisation and energy transition as well as stiff competition from surrounding ports. Divergent trends provide reassurance that the complex can handle these challenges, such as the major investments in various refineries, a number of projects that should shape energy transition and the new container line sailing schedules that are favourable to Rotterdam."
The Port Authority expects throughput volume in 2017 to remain at a comparable level to that of 2016. Container handling is expected to continue on an upward trend. It is uncertain whether the other sectors will equal the 2016 results, the port authority said.