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In the first nine months of this year, over 332 million tonnes of cargo were handled in the port of Rotterdam, virtually equal to the same period of last year.
The top performance came from dry bulk, such as coal, iron ore and agribulk. Throughput figures for crude oil were noticeably lower than in 2012, due mainly to the weak fuel market in Europe and maintenance shutdowns at the refineries. Thanks to flourishing international trade, however, more oil products were imported and exported.
Container throughput was down due to the economic crisis.
Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO said: “On the whole, it was a good third quarter. The first six months were 0.9 percent down on 2012. However, taken over the first nine months, the decrease is only 0.1 percent. I expect the port to continue on this upward trend, so that throughput for 2013 as a whole will be at the same level as 2012, in terms of tonnes.”
Since January 1, the running of Dordrecht seaport has been integrated into Rotterdam’s operations. Throughput figures for Dordrecht (about three million tonnes a year, 0.7 percent of Rotterdam’s throughput) have therefore been included since this year. Even without the inclusion of Dordrecht, throughput in Rotterdam increased in the third quarter, by one percent compared to the third quarter of 2012.
The container sector showed a decline in both tonnes (-2.7 percent) and numbers of TEU (- one percent). The main reason is the low demand for (consumer) goods resulting from the economic situation.
Thanks to the improvement in the British economy, roll on/roll off rose by 2.8 percent.
Other general cargo was 23.1 percent down on 2012. The decline in the breakbulk sector as a whole was 3.9 percent.
Cargonews Asia
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