Throughput in the port of Rotterdam increased by 6.1%, to 321 million tonnes, over the first nine months of the year. Most types of cargo showed a positive trend: agribulk (+26%), other liquid bulk (+16%), ores and scrap (+11%), coal (+9%), crude oil (+7%), containers (+6%), roll on/roll off (+2%) and mineral oil products (+1%). Down (again) were other dry bulk (-11%) and other general cargo (-15%). In tonnes, crude oil (+5 million), containers (+ 5 million) and ores and scrap (+3 million) accounted for the lion’s share of the total increase, with 19 million tonnes. Bulk cargo, up 7% to 219 million tonnes, performed better than general cargo, which increased by 4% to 102 million tonnes.
Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “The port of Rotterdam continues to perform well. Growth up so far equals that in 2007, when we spoke of a ‘sprint in the third quarter’, and this September was even better than last year. In comparison with the first six months, growth faltered, but that was the strongest period in the last ten years.
We are actually seeing signs of a change in our fortunes. There is a decline in the transshipment of feedstocks for the metal sector and chemical industry and also less growth in containers and roll on/roll off. This started in the first quarter and is related mainly to the slowdown in the world economy. When growth starts to falter in continental Europe, we are sure to notice that too. This has been delayed, however, and cushioned to some extent by the increased trade contacts with markets that are holding out better. We are also benefiting from structural investments made during the past ten years in the port and beyond, for example in the Betuwe Line. We therefore are sticking to our forecast of 4 to 5 % growth, to around 420 million tonnes. But for 2009 I expect a considerable slowdown in growth”.
Liquid bulk
The percentage growth in imports of crude oil (+7% to 76 million tonnes) is gradually falling as we approach the end of the year, parallel to the recovery of the transshipment capacity in 2007. In absolute quantities, throughput comes close to the maximum level achieved in practice of over 100 million tonnes.
The transshipment of mineral oil products (+1% to over 44 million tonnes) is more or less stagnant. The demand for heavy fuel oil in particular is not increasing, because shipping lines are sailing more economically in order to cut costs. The handling of other liquid bulk (+15.7% to 27 million tonnes) benefited in particular from the increasing demand for biofuels and vegetable oil. Chemical products did less well.
Dry bulk
Growth in the transshipment of agribulk (+26%) is falling gradually in the second half of the year, due to the good harvests in the EU during the 2008-2009 season. Not visible in sea/sea transshipment is a large quantity of cargo arriving by rail from Eastern Europe for transfer onto inland shipping.
Incoming trade in coal (+9% to almost 22 million tonnes) is flourishing, thanks to demand from Germany, where domestic production is declining both structurally and incidentally. In the fourth quarter, the growth will fall slightly in relative terms compared to the extremely good quarter in 2007.
Particularly large quantities of ores and scrap (+11% to 33 million tonnes) were handled, due to the high demand for steel and the expansion of production capacity in Duisburg and Liège. The last plant went into operation (again) in the fourth quarter of 2007 and therefore diminishes growth in the corresponding quarter. Besides this, production restrictions have now been announced. This results in an annual forecast of 42 million tonnes.
Half of the decline in the handling of other dry bulk, (–11% to 8.6 million tonnes) can be attributed to the loss of cargo packages. The other half is determined by economic trends. The transshipment of minerals has been under pressure since earlier in the year, due to falling demand from the chemical and metal industry. There is less call for building materials, sand and gravel, in England and Spain.
General cargo
The handling of containers increased from 78 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2007 to a good 82 million tonnes (+6%). Calculated in TEU: 8.2 million, up 2%. The difference between units and weight is the result of the regulation of empty containers by the big terminals. The growth, which was still 7% in the first six months, is declining mainly as a result of less traffic to England/Ireland and Asia.
Roll-on / roll-off transport is also suffering from the economic downturn in the UK. Partly because of the fire in the Channel Tunnel, the sector still managed to achieve 1.7% growth, to over 13 million tonnes.
Other general cargo (-14.9% to 6 million tonnes) still needs some time to compensate for the termination of LASH shipping last year. The increase in steel throughput offers some hope here. On the other hand, less metals, aluminium in particular, are being handled, due to declining demand. Storage is increasing in terms of both quantity and time.
Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “The port of Rotterdam continues to perform well. Growth up so far equals that in 2007, when we spoke of a ‘sprint in the third quarter’, and this September was even better than last year. In comparison with the first six months, growth faltered, but that was the strongest period in the last ten years.
We are actually seeing signs of a change in our fortunes. There is a decline in the transshipment of feedstocks for the metal sector and chemical industry and also less growth in containers and roll on/roll off. This started in the first quarter and is related mainly to the slowdown in the world economy. When growth starts to falter in continental Europe, we are sure to notice that too. This has been delayed, however, and cushioned to some extent by the increased trade contacts with markets that are holding out better. We are also benefiting from structural investments made during the past ten years in the port and beyond, for example in the Betuwe Line. We therefore are sticking to our forecast of 4 to 5 % growth, to around 420 million tonnes. But for 2009 I expect a considerable slowdown in growth”.
Liquid bulk
The percentage growth in imports of crude oil (+7% to 76 million tonnes) is gradually falling as we approach the end of the year, parallel to the recovery of the transshipment capacity in 2007. In absolute quantities, throughput comes close to the maximum level achieved in practice of over 100 million tonnes.
The transshipment of mineral oil products (+1% to over 44 million tonnes) is more or less stagnant. The demand for heavy fuel oil in particular is not increasing, because shipping lines are sailing more economically in order to cut costs. The handling of other liquid bulk (+15.7% to 27 million tonnes) benefited in particular from the increasing demand for biofuels and vegetable oil. Chemical products did less well.
Dry bulk
Growth in the transshipment of agribulk (+26%) is falling gradually in the second half of the year, due to the good harvests in the EU during the 2008-2009 season. Not visible in sea/sea transshipment is a large quantity of cargo arriving by rail from Eastern Europe for transfer onto inland shipping.
Incoming trade in coal (+9% to almost 22 million tonnes) is flourishing, thanks to demand from Germany, where domestic production is declining both structurally and incidentally. In the fourth quarter, the growth will fall slightly in relative terms compared to the extremely good quarter in 2007.
Particularly large quantities of ores and scrap (+11% to 33 million tonnes) were handled, due to the high demand for steel and the expansion of production capacity in Duisburg and Liège. The last plant went into operation (again) in the fourth quarter of 2007 and therefore diminishes growth in the corresponding quarter. Besides this, production restrictions have now been announced. This results in an annual forecast of 42 million tonnes.
Half of the decline in the handling of other dry bulk, (–11% to 8.6 million tonnes) can be attributed to the loss of cargo packages. The other half is determined by economic trends. The transshipment of minerals has been under pressure since earlier in the year, due to falling demand from the chemical and metal industry. There is less call for building materials, sand and gravel, in England and Spain.
General cargo
The handling of containers increased from 78 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2007 to a good 82 million tonnes (+6%). Calculated in TEU: 8.2 million, up 2%. The difference between units and weight is the result of the regulation of empty containers by the big terminals. The growth, which was still 7% in the first six months, is declining mainly as a result of less traffic to England/Ireland and Asia.
Roll-on / roll-off transport is also suffering from the economic downturn in the UK. Partly because of the fire in the Channel Tunnel, the sector still managed to achieve 1.7% growth, to over 13 million tonnes.
Other general cargo (-14.9% to 6 million tonnes) still needs some time to compensate for the termination of LASH shipping last year. The increase in steel throughput offers some hope here. On the other hand, less metals, aluminium in particular, are being handled, due to declining demand. Storage is increasing in terms of both quantity and time.