Port of Rotterdam’s volumes decline

The European port’s breakbulk segment posted higher volumes year-over-year in the first half of 2016, while the container, dry bulk and liquid bulk segments experienced declines.    The Port of Rotterdam handled 229.1 million metric tons of cargo during the first half of 2016, a 3 percent decline from the corresponding period in 2015, which largely resulted in the sluggish dry bulk segment, the port said.
   During the first half of the year, the port handled 6.1 billion TEUs weighing 63 million tons, a year-over-year drop of 2.3 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.
   Overall, a total of 54 fully cellular container services that also extend their scope outside of North Europe frequent the Port of Rotterdam, according to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting. The port is also called by dozens of intra-North Europe fully cellular container services.
   The dry bulk segment handled 39.3 million metric tons of cargo during the first half of 2016, a 9.9 percent drop from the corresponding period last year.
   Meanwhile, the liquid bulk segment saw volumes slip 1.1 percent year-over-year to 113 million metric tons. However, the volumes of crude oil and oil products put through the port so far in 2016 is still at a historical high the port said.
   In the breakbulk segment, volumes ticked up 2.6 percent from the first half of 2015 to 13.8 million metric tons.
   In terms of financials, the Port of Rotterdam posted a turnover of 336.9 million euros (U.S. $371.2 million), a 2 million euro decline from the corresponding period last year.
   The port’s net result tumbled from 122.5 million euros in the first half of 2015 to 96.6 million euros for the first half of this year. “This difference can be attributed almost entirely to a one-time payment in connection with the partial cancellation of an interest rate swap,” the port said. “While this increased the port authority’s financial expenses in 2016 by 29.3 million euros compared to 2015, it will result in lower interest charges in the years ahead. Investments for the full year 2016 are expected to be virtually equal to those made in 2015.