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Rotterdam container volumes grow 5.7% in first nine months

Rotterdam container volumes grow 5.7% in first nine months
The port of Rotterdam has improved its container throughput in the first nine months, recording a 5.7% increase compared to the same period of last year.

From January to September 2018, Rotterdam handled box volume of 10.78m teu, up 5.7% from 10.2m teu posted in the previous corresponding period, according to data from Port of Rotterdam Authority.

The growth in the first nine months differs from trade route to trade route, the port authority noted.

Along the Asia-Europe trade lane, the volume of incoming loaded containers rose by 10%, while outbound volumes decreased by 7.6%. Overall throughput on the North American trade lane increased by almost 10%, and handling for the South American lane rose by over 20%.

Growth in the short sea segments was more modest. This was more apparent in the short sea services to the UK as a result of the slowing British economy.

Read about Port of Rotterdam Authority's $85.5m investment in Brazil’s Port of Pecém

Wet and dry bulk, on the other hand, showed a decline in volume – although LNG and biomass were two positive outliers within these product segments.

Rotterdam port processed 349.98m tonnes of cargo in the first three quarters, a decrease of 1.52m tonnes compared to the same period of 2017.

Allard Castelein, ceo of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “I am happy to see that the healthy growth in the containers segment – one of the port authority’s spearheads – shows no signs of slowing down.

“In view of the present energy transition and the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, a gradual contraction in the fossil fuels segment seems inevitable. This development creates new scope for growth in the LNG and biofuels segments – as borne out once again by this quarter’s figures,” he said.