The following release was published by Port of Rotterdam:
The volume of total cargo throughput in the port of Rotterdam was 5.5% lower in the first half of the year (220.7 million tonnes) than in the same period in 2022 (233.5 million tonnes). The fall was mainly seen in coal throughput, containers and other dry bulk (commodities). Throughput in the agribulk, iron ore & scrap, and LNG segments increased.
In the first half of the year, the agreements were signed for the expansion at the container terminals in the Prinses Amaliahaven. This expansion will, in time, result in a potential flow of some 4 million TEUs (standard size for containers). The Port Authority’s robust financial results put it in a position to continue investing in the transition to cleaner energy and in good accessibility.
- Substantial investment in first six months in extra container terminal capacity
- Major progress in energy transition: shore power in place, investment decision on hydrogen pipeline, Sif plant expansion, sustainability in inland shipping sector and new agreements about imports of green hydrogen
- Fall of 5.5% in cargo throughput due to high inflation and downturn in economy
- Robust revenue and operating result for the Port of Rotterdam Authority
Boudewijn Siemons, interim CEO and COO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: “Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, major advances were made in the first half year in the construction and issuance of new land and quay walls to make room for, among other things, the production and imports of green hydrogen and additional capacity in the container segment. An important step was made with the issuance of the land in the Prinses Amaliahaven to APM Terminals and RWG. We want to provide our customers with the necessary space and facilities in good time so that they can continue to operate and grow in a sustainable way.”
Finances of the Port of Rotterdam Authority The Port of Rotterdam Authority’s financial results were robust in the first half year of 2023. Revenue, mainly from port dues, and rental and leasehold income, was € 4.3 million higher than in the first half of 2022 at € 416.5 million. Operating expenses rose by € 10.2 million to € 134.6 million. As a result, earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation fell by € 5.9 million to € 281.9 million. The net result was down € 26.1 million at € 116.5 million due to two one-off items. In the first half of the year, due to the ruling of the Council of State relating to the 25-kilometre restriction, the acquired nitrogen rights (€ 8.0 million) and a Porthos guarantee premium (€ 7.3 million) were written off, with a negative result for participating interests as a result.
Gross investments in the first half of 2023 amounted to € 135.7 million, including capital injections in participating interests (first half of 2022: € 117.1 million). The main investment in the first half of 2023 was the construction of the Prinses Amaliahaven quay wall (€ 38.3 million).
Containers and breakbulk
Container throughput in tonnes was 9.3% down in the first half of the year at 64.4 million tonnes; the fall in TEUs was 8.1% to 6.7 million. There are two principal reasons for the decline in container throughput: the termination of volumes to and from Russia and the fall in imports from Asia. However, the reliability of the sailing schedules of container vessels continued to improve in the first half of the year. This led to an improvement in volume handling at the port and to the hinterland. Roll-on/roll-off traffic (RoRo) dropped 3.2% to 13.3 million tonnes. In addition to declining demand due to high inflation and stockpiling, the RoRo segment is also affected by the weak UK economy. The general cargo segment fell to 3.4 million tonnes (–11.5%). The main reason is that a lot of general cargo is again being shipped in containers given the low container rates.
Source: Port of Rotterdam