Rotterdam reported strong throughput figures for the first half of this year. Breakbulk traffic continues to grow, and investments are being made to secure Europe’s energy independence.
The volume of total cargo throughput at the port of Rotterdam was 0.8 percent higher in the first half of the year (233.5 million tonnes) than in the same period in 2021 (231.6 million tonnes). Breakbulk cargo rose sharply year on year by 17.7 percent.
Growing breakbulk shipping activity at the port of Rotterdam was attributed to rising imports of steel and non-ferrous metals. The port said that in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, steel and non-ferrous prices shot up. Alternative suppliers were soon found, particularly from Asia, where Covid-19 led to a slump in demand for steel. In addition, high container rates mean that more cargo is being shipped as breakbulk. Ro-ro traffic was up 16.8 percent year on year.
Throughput of containers was down 4.4 percent year on year in the first half of 2022. The decline was attributed to the loss of this traffic to and from Russia due to sanctions, as well as 5.5 percent fewer calls by carriers due to blanked sailings.
Source: heavyliftpfi.com
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