A lot of money is being made in the port of Rotterdam, more especially by the shareholders of port companies who, incidentally, are often to be found in faraway places. Last week, two large players in the port of Rotterdam reported a substantial increase in their profits.
Profits at Europe’s largest container terminal, ECT (European Container Terminals) rose by 34 percent in the six first months of this year. That makes ECT the most profitable port operation of parent company Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong. ECT has terminals in Rotterdam, Venlo, Dusseldorf and Willebroek (Belgium).
With the Delta terminal on the Maasvlakte, Home Terminal in the Eemhaven and Hanno Terminal in the Waalhaven, ECT handles almost three-quarters of all containers passing through the port of Rotterdam.
Turnover at participations of HES Beheer grew 5.1 percent. But because costs only rose fractionally, profits could go up substantially. The second half of the year has also gone off to a good start at HES Beheer companies. Profits are expected to be able to exceed the € 10 million mark this year (net result in 2006: € 8.8 million).
Profits at Europe’s largest container terminal, ECT (European Container Terminals) rose by 34 percent in the six first months of this year. That makes ECT the most profitable port operation of parent company Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong. ECT has terminals in Rotterdam, Venlo, Dusseldorf and Willebroek (Belgium).
With the Delta terminal on the Maasvlakte, Home Terminal in the Eemhaven and Hanno Terminal in the Waalhaven, ECT handles almost three-quarters of all containers passing through the port of Rotterdam.
Container transshipment at ECT grew by 12 percent in the past six months, in spite of the strike by Smit harbour tugs and the many storms during the winter months. The growth in container traffic has to do with the growth of world trade that has persisted for some years now, and the constantly growing imports from China, which, for a large part, enter Europe via the port of Rotterdam.But apart from the container movements, another major sector in the port is also doing well, namely the transshipment of bulk goods such as coal, iron ore and bulk agricultural products. In this sector, the Rotterdam-based company HES Beer is an important player. HES Beheer reported a rise in profits for the first six months of the year of 38.9 percent. Profit rose to € 5 million compared to € 3.6 million in the first six months of last year. HES Beheer is a holding company with major stakes in a dozen companies operating in the port that specialise in handling bulk goods.
The 38.9 percent rise in profits is due especially to a drastic improvement in profit at the Rotterdam subsidiary EBS (European Bulk Services) in Europoort, which achieved a 7.5 percent turnover rise. A drop in agribulk and coal shipments was offset by a rise in incoming shipments of industrial minerals (ores). EMO-Rotterdam (Maasvlakte), where HES has a 31 percent stake, OBA-Amsterdam (50 percent stake), OVET-Terneuzen (33.3 percent) and the English NHBS (100 percent) have also continued to do well, according to HES Beheer.Turnover at participations of HES Beheer grew 5.1 percent. But because costs only rose fractionally, profits could go up substantially. The second half of the year has also gone off to a good start at HES Beheer companies. Profits are expected to be able to exceed the € 10 million mark this year (net result in 2006: € 8.8 million).