As part of the Rhenus Group, the port agency Rhenus Weserport Bremen has so far focused on handling ocean-going vessels for road transport and inland waterway vessels. Rhenus Weserport is now expanding its existing rail link on a large scale for its latest collaboration with Nabaltec AG. The rail transshipment facility in Germany's southernmost seaport will be used to load aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide from smelting operations abroad.

As a supplier of environmentally friendly, flame-retardant fillers and specialty oxides, Nabaltec AG serves growth markets around the world. Due to high energy costs and the expected deindustrialization in Germany, the company is expanding its sourcing options for the basic raw materials aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide, which are important for the product portfolio, to smelters throughout Europe, Brazil and - depending on the cost and quality situation - worldwide.

Bremen - an inexpensive alternative

The raw materials are transported to Germany by sea, where transshipment saves costs for Nabaltec compared to Dutch and Belgian seaports and ensures security of supply thanks to warehousing in Bremen.

"The decision to handle the aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide via Rhenus Weserport was made due to the existing rail connection, which is ideally suited for an order-related expansion. Other decisive factors were the direct connection to deep-sea transportation and the existing handling and storage facilities. From Bremen, the raw material is transported directly to us in Bavaria by rail. We expect cost advantages here due to the expansion of our supplier portfolio, so that we can continue to offer our products competitively," explained Johannes Heckmann, CEO of Nabaltec AG.

Aluminum hydroxide is an important flame-retardant component of plastic cables and other metallic conductors. Aluminum oxide is used in the production of technical ceramics and in the refractory and polishing industry.

New business segment

Rhenus Weserport has already started handling goods for Nabaltec. The port service provider is positioning itself for the future by expanding its handling options on rail facilities. "The new business segment is an important development for us. We are opening up new markets and opportunities for cooperation with the first rail loading facility," explains Rudolf Egbert, Managing Director of Rhenus Weserport. "This opens up new opportunities for us, especially in times of deindustrialization in Germany."

Until the new fully automated rail handling facility at Terminal 4 is completed, Nabaltec is already temporarily using Terminal 2 in Bremen's industrial port for handling aluminum hydroxide. The approval and construction procedures for the conversion of Terminal 4 are in full swing. The new facility is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2024. The expansion and the automated rail loading system will allow Nabaltec to handle the targeted 70,000 to 140,000 tons of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide per year.

The contract between Rhenus Weserport and Nabaltec was concluded for a period of 10 years, with an option to extend.