According to Port of Rotterdam, last year saw major investment decisions that are contributing to making the port and the logistics chain to and from Rotterdam more sustainable. The financial results were stable, putting the Port Authority in a position to commit to further investments for a future-resilient port in the years to come as well.
Total cargo throughput in the port of Rotterdam this year amounted to 438.8 million tonnes, 6.1% less than in 2022 (467.4 million tonnes). The fall was mainly seen in coal throughput, containers and other dry bulk. Throughput rose in the agribulk, iron ore & scrap, and LNG segments.
- cargo throughput down by 6.1% due to ongoing geopolitical unrest, low economic growth and high inflation
- Manifest progress on making industry and logistics chain more sustainable: investment decision made for Porthos, construction of national hydrogen network initiated, new shore power connections in place, land reclamation for Princess Alexiahaven started
- Key developments in container segment: investment decisions made for expansion of container terminals by APMT and RWG, Container Exchange Route (CER) officially opened, Nextlogic operational, widening of Yangtzekanaal started
- Stable financial result for Port of Rotterdam Authority
- Port of Rotterdam investment level continues high
Dry bulk
The throughput of dry bulk in 2023 was 11.8% down on 2022.
A striking development in the agribulk segment was the increase in maize imports by 50% after crop failures due to drought and floods in Europe. Coal throughput fell by 20.3% to 23.1 million tonnes, mainly because of low demand for energy coal for power production. In 2022, demand for energy coal rose sharply due to concerns about energy security and large increases in gas prices. The throughput of crude oil was 9.9% higher at 28.1 million tonnes. Ore stocks were replenished after low imports of ore in 2022 pursuant to low steel production. Outgoing scrap in Rotterdam was 32% higher.
The negative figures for the throughput of other dry bulk are attributable to lower demand for raw materials from European industry. The striking decrease of 49.4% in other dry bulk and the increase of 31.3% in agribulk were caused by a correction of erroneous declarations in the seaport dues system in 2022. After the elimination of this distortion, the decrease in other dry bulk was 24.7% and the increase in agribulk was 3.0%.
Liquid bulk
According to Port of Rotterdam, liquid bulk throughput was 3.4% lower last year. Crude oil fell by 1.4% with the discontinuation of ship-to-ship transshipment. Throughput of mineral oil products fell by 6.5%, mainly because of the decline in the throughput of fuel oil and naphtha. This meant that the throughput of gas oil was higher than that of fuel oil for the first time. LNG throughput was 3.7% higher at 11.9 million tonnes. Europe continues to import large amounts of LNG to replace pipeline imports of Russian natural gas. There was also more bunkering in seagoing LNG tankers. Other liquid wet bulk was 5.9% down in all underlying categories (chemical, renewable and vegetable products) at 36.1 million tonnes, primarily because of low demand and stock reductions.
Containers and break bulk
Container throughput in tonnes was 6.8% lower in 2023 at 130.1 million tonnes; the fall in TEUs was 7.0% to 13.4 million TEU. Container throughput has proved to be very volatile in recent years in response to COVID and geopolitical developments. The decline that began in 2022 continued in 2023. The main reasons are lower consumption, lower production in Europe and the discontinuation of volumes to and from Russia pursuant to the sanctions. Port calls in the container segment were up slightly by 1.0%. However, container ship cargoes were 7.8% lower. Roll-on/roll-off traffic (RoRo) fell by 5.0% to 25.9 million tonnes. The weak British economy and lagging consumption continue to be the main causes. The 5.0% fall in other break bulk is largely attributable to the decline in container rates, which fell sharply in 2023, resulting in more cargo being shipped in containers rather than as break bulk. In addition, disappointing demand in Europe due to inflation and rising interest rates meant that many stocks were left in breakbulk terminals for long periods of time, leaving less room for additional cargo acquisition.
Investments in port development
Expansion of container terminals by APMT and RWG
Container Terminals APM Terminals and Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) have announced plans to expand their terminals in the Princess Amaliahaven in 2023. The APMT expansion covers a site of some 47.5 hectares, including a deep-sea quay with a total length of one kilometre. It will add about two million TEUs in terminal capacity. The completion of the quay is planned for the second half of 2024. At RWG, the expansion involves about 45 hectares of terminal land and 920 metres of quay wall, increasing RWG’s capacity by 1.8 million TEUs in phases. Both terminals will be prepared for the use of shore power and will operate in carbon-neutral ways.
Container Exchange Route (CER)
The CER went into operation in late 2023. The 17-kilometre closed road network currently connects the container terminals of Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG), the Delta terminal of Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam (ECT), the terminals and depots of QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam (KDD, RCT and DCS) and the State Inspection Terminal of the Customs Authority. The CER is making a major contribution to security, integrity, efficiency and sustainability in the Port of Rotterdam.
Nextlogic operational
After an intensive pilot phase, the green light was given for Nextlogic in January 2023. Nextlogic will allow for the faster handling of inland container vessels and the optimal utilisation of quays. Several parties were scaled up last year, resulting in 1 million container moves being processed and time spent in the port falling by over 20%.
Construction of national hydrogen network
The construction of the national hydrogen network began officially on 27 October in the port of Rotterdam. The network, which is open to all hydrogen suppliers and buyers, will soon be 1,200 kilometres long and it will provide five Dutch industrial clusters with access to green hydrogen. The first section of more than 30 kilometres connects the Maasvlakte conversion facility to Pernis. The first of four hydrogen plants is now being built at the conversion facility. This 200MW hydrogen plant, the Holland Hydrogen 1, makes green hydrogen with electricity from offshore wind farms and is expected to be in a position to supply the first green hydrogen to the production site in Pernis in 2025. The proposed Delta Rhine Corridor will also provide a connection to Germany.
Shore power
Construction on the shore power installation for cruise vessels at the Holland America Quay began in early June. The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are providing the financing for the building work. Boskalis commissioned a large-scale shore power facility at its Waalhaven location in November. Some of the DFDS vessels that dock in Vlaardingen have been supplied with electricity from a shore power installation since late 2023. Using shore power reduces emissions of CO2, nitrogen and particulate matter. It also reduces noise levels from ships significantly.
