Trade flows through the largest Northern Europe’s transport hub, the port of Rotterdam will amount to 430 million tons, up 11.1% over the same period of 2009 and by 2.1% compared to pre-crisis 2008, the Rotterdam Port Authority press release said.
Imports during the period grew by 12% to 306 million tons, exports - by 9% to 124 million tons.
In 2010 the turnover of ore and scrap soared by 71% up to 40 million tons, other bulked cargo - by 22%. Crude oil shipment rose 4% to 100 million tons, petroleum products handling increased by 7% to 77 million tons, other bulked cargoes - by 8%. The volume of coal transshipment fell by 1.7% to 24 million tons, mainly due to reduced demand for energy caused by economic downturn and lower prices for natural gas, the RPA said.
Rotterdam port's container throughput reached according to year-end figures 11,1 million TEUs, a 14% increase year-over-year and on a par with 2008’s digits.
Port of Rotterdam CEO Hans Smits said, commenting on the year-end results, the 430m-ton mark was above expectations. Hans Smits was cautious making forecast for the next year’s cargo throughput at 2-3% (about 440 million tons).
Rotterdam, the Europe's largest port hub, has an infrastructure designed to service the ocean services, feeder lines, pipelines, rail and road transport. The area of the port is10,500 ha. Last year’s cargo throughput of the port totaled 387 million tons.