Throughput port of Rotterdam up 1%

In 2014, the throughput in the port of Rotterdam went up 1% to 445 million tonnes. The different market sectors performed quite dissimilar. The container sector, up by 5.8% (volume) and breakbulk, with 12.1% growth, did exceptionally well. Oil products fell the most, by 8.1%. An extra 4.8% of crude oil passed through the port. Dry bulk fell by 0.7%.

Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Said "In 2015 we expect the same growth in throughput as last year 1%. This year too, the main growth is expected in the container sector. In the coming years, we will nurture the large, existing sectors in the port, whilst also focusing strongly on innovation and broadening the range of activities in the port. We need both for a healthy future."

During this annual presentation, Castelein also paid plenty of attention to the challenges facing the port. "We are seeing major changes not only in the energy sector and the chemical industry, but also in logistics" according to Allard Castelein. "So that the port can continue to be a strong pillar of our prosperity in the long term, we are working with business on innovation and on broadening the range of activities in the port. We can already see evidence of this in the increase in offshore activities, but the energy and chemical sector also need to become more sustainable. We are focusing on increasing efficiency in industry and on developing bio-based industry. For the container sector the development of the hinterland connections is particularly important. This year the new container terminals on Maasvlakte 2 will be busy starting up; from 2016 onwards, however, there will actually be extra capacity for further growth."

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