Cargo traffic at the Port of Rotterdam remained unchanged in the first half of 2024 compared to the same time last year.
Cargo throughput totaled 220.0 million tonnes. This is 0.3 per cent less than in the same time of 2023 (220.7 million tonnes).
According to the Port of Rotterdam, the decrease was mostly due to reduced handling of coal, crude oil, and other liquid bulk.
In contrast, the volume of iron ore and scrap, other dry bulk, mineral-oil products, and containers grew. Container throughput grew by 4.2 per cent (in tonnes) and 2.2 per cent (in TEU) as consumer demand increased and the peak season began earlier.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority’s investments remained on schedule in the first half of the year.
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Additionally, the port has reportedly begun work on the CO2 transit and storage project Porthos, awarded a contract for the Prinses Alexia viaduct, and invested in improving the port’s digital resilience.
In the first half of the year, container traffic increased by 4.2 per cent in tonnes to 67.1 million tonnes and 2.2 per cent in TEU to 6.8 million TEU. Container throughput improved somewhat in the first quarter.
This pattern continued during the second quarter. The port attributed the trend to rising demand for consumer goods.
Additionally, there is an early peak season as importers order their products earlier than usual due to longer sailing times and fluctuating sailing schedules. Ships have not passed through the Suez Canal since late 2023, due to turmoil in the Red Sea.
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RoRo traffic fell by 4.1 per cent to 12.8 million tonnes due to the UK economy’s weakness. The other breakbulk category dropped 10.5 per cent to 3.1 million tonnes.
The port noted that this is due to the containerisation of general cargo and the relocation of certain cargo packages to other ports.
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “After a period of economic uncertainty, we see demand for raw materials and consumer products starting to increase. This led to growth in container throughput in the first half of the year.
“Whether that trend will continue in other segments will depend partly on the pace of the European industry’s recovery in the coming months.”
