Container volumes at the Port of Rotterdam have fallen 1.4 per cent to 3.6 million TEU in Q1 2022.
Even though more empty containers were transported during the period of January to March 2022, the average container weight was lower.
The port authority cited the recent Russia-Ukraine war as a major reason behind the falling volumes.
As a result of the war, most shipping companies have halted bookings for Russian container cargo, and most deep-sea terminals are not accepting any export cargo from the invading country.
Russian vessels have recently been banned from ports across the UK, US, and EU.
Transshipment volumes in Rotterdam have also dropped substantially by 21.5 per cent to 6.0 million tonnes, another driver behind the port’s lower container throughput.
“Although we started the year exceptionally well, the world was hit by the war in Ukraine in late February,” said Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority. “Besides the fact that this conflict is a terrible humanitarian disaster, it led to serious uncertainty in world trade and changes in logistical parameters.
“Although no one can predict how this will unfold, we expect that the developments in Ukraine and the seriously deteriorated relationship between Russia and many other countries will impact throughput volumes for the rest of the year as well.”
The impact of the lockdowns in Shenzhen and Shanghai is not yet noticeable in Rotterdam.
Earlier this month, GIDARA Energy announced it is to open its next advanced biofuels facility in the Port of Rotterdam.
The Advanced Methanol Rotterdam (AMR) plant will make use of the company’s High Temperature Winkler (HTW) technology to convert non-recyclable waste into advanced methanol which will be used to replace fossil fuels and create significant carbon savings.
The plant is scheduled to start detailing engineering and construction in the first half of 2023. Production is expected to commence to begin in 2025.
