Port of Rotterdam’s breakbulk throughput dips

Port of Rotterdam's breakbulk throughput dips
Photo Port of Rotterdam

Port of Rotterdam reported a drop in breakbulk cargo throughput as various factors affected both the RoRo traffic and the general cargo segments. The port authority said that total breakbulk traffic landed at 23.7 million tons during the first nine months of the year, 4.7 per cent below the 2023 figures. 

RoRo traffic declined 3.5 per cent to 19.2 million tonnes due to the economic situation in the United Kingdom. The other breakbulk segment also fell by 9.5 per cent to 4.5 million tonnes due to less storage and throughput of steel and non-ferrous metal.

The overall throughput at the port of Rotterdam decreased by 0.4 per cent in the first three quarters of this year. The total throughput therefore equalled 328.6 million tonnes compared to 329.9 million tonnes in the same period of the previous year.

“Global trade saw a tentative recovery in recent months. Consumer confidence has increased and this translated to a growth in container throughput. The drop in the throughput in other segments sadly shows that European industry is still wrestling with a weak competitive position due to high energy costs. These developments come as no surprise. We continue to deal with major challenges on the geopolitical stage and in the global supply chains. We therefore don’t expect to see any major shifts in commodity flows in the remaining months of this year,” Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority, said.

However, the Rotterdam container sector saw growth: there was an increase in terms of weight (3.0 per cent) and containers (2.2 per cent). Iron ore and scrap also increased by 2.3 million tonnes (11.1 per cent). The decline in total throughput is mainly due to a lower throughput of coal and crude oil.

European consumer spending has increased, leading to higher demand for goods. However, industrial production in Europe has not yet fully recovered, resulting in lower exports of finished goods.

The rerouting of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope due to geopolitical tensions earlier this year caused an early peak season. While congestion at Asian, Middle Eastern, and Southern European ports has eased, limited vessel capacity continues to impact port operations. This has resulted in fewer port calls but higher vessel capacity utilization, leading to increased pressure on terminal operations.

Author: Adnan Bajic

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