Port of Rotterdam
Freight throughput up 5.1 % in the first quarter
The port of Rotterdam handled 5.1% more goods in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the previous year.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has published the figures for the first quarter of the year: 123.9 million tons were handled in total, compared to 117.8 million tons in the same period last year. The increase related to container throughput and fuels, while the throughput of mineral oil products, iron ore and scrap declined. Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: "2019 got off to an excellent start with record throughput volumes in the first quarter. The quarterly figures also confirm that Rotterdam has once again strengthened its position as a hub for the storage and onward transportation of containers and LNG (liquefied natural gas). For the year as a whole, we are sticking to our forecast of a slight increase in throughput volumes for 2019."
Handling of liquid bulk increased by 4.6% overall to 58.5 million tons. The increase in crude oil (10.4%) was particularly significant, due to larger deliveries of oil from the USA. However, the decline in heating oil trade between Russia and Asia led to a 7.4% drop in the handling of mineral oil products. LNG throughput increased by 143% year-on-year to 1.8 million tons. In dry bulk, iron ore, scrap and coal are the most important types of cargo handled in the port of Rotterdam. A 17.9% drop in the handling of iron ore and scrap to 5.9 million tons due to a 5% drop in steel production in Germany was offset by a 15.7% increase in the handling of coal to 7.5 million tons. Container throughput by weight rose by 5.9% to 38.0 million tons, continuing the previous year's increase.










