THE Port of Rotterdam in the first half of 2012 handled 5.9 million TEU, a decline of 1.6 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier due to the changing import/export ratio with Asia. The number of empty containers leaving the port fell by almost 20 per cent.
In the first half, the port handled 222 million tonnes of cargo, up 3.2 per cent year on year. Incoming trade rose one per cent to 155 million tonnes and outgoing trade increased eight per cent to 66 million tonnes.
Bulk throughput during the first half increased five per cent to 147 million tonnes, yet, the total amount of dry bulk fell by 8.7 per cent to 39.4 million tonnes. Agribulk (grains, seeds, animal feed ingredients) volume fell 11 per cent to 4.1 million tonnes. Less general cargo was handled, with volume down eight per cent to 12 million tonnes. Iron ore and scrap were down 15.1 per cent to 16.4 million tonnes, and other general cargo down 25 per cent.
On the other hand, the volume of coal handled by the port during the first half of the year was up 1.9 per cent to 12.9 million tonnes; crude oil was up 10 per cent, mineral oil products (+14 per cent), other liquid bulk (+6 per cent) and roll on/roll off was up 0.5 per cent to 8.8 million tonnes, a statement from port authorities said.
Said port CEO Hans Smits: "The port of Rotterdam got off to a good start, with slightly higher than expected growth in throughput. This is in line with the recent report from Statistics Netherlands, in which the economic growth is attributed primarily to exports outside the EU."
Mr Smits forecasts that throughput for the whole of the year will show modest growth of one per cent.
Pointing to highlights, Mr Smits noted that the business sector will be investing almost EUR11 billion (US$13.7 billion) in the port area between 2011 and 2015. "The construction on the RWG and APMT container terminals marks the actual beginning of corporate investment on the land expansion. In the existing port area there is ongoing investment, with large projects in refining, chemicals, tank storage and energy," said Mr Smits.
"Like throughput, the construction of the Second Maasvlakte is developing well. One of this year's two critical moments, the closure of the seawall, went perfectly. I have every confidence that the same will apply to the rerouting of the infrastructure and the start of the digging through of the Yangtsehaven in October," he added.