Container sector led the way, while liquid and dry bulk posted volume declines.
The Port of Rotterdam enjoyed a 5.8 percent increase in container throughput to 12.3 million TEUs in 2014, with crude oil up 4.8 percent and breakbulk business up 12.1 percent to 26 million tons, the port authority said.
The agency attributed the rise in container business to the port’s ability to serve the latest class of mega vessels that ocean carriers increasingly are using on the Asia-Europe trade lane. It also pointed to the improving economy in the European Union and the United Kingdom, although in recent months the regional economy has looked less robust with several countries now in recession.
On a tonnage basis, activity grew 1 percent to 445 million tons. Sectors that didn’t do as well were oil products (down 8.1 percent) and dry bulk (down 0.7 percent to 88.6 million tons). One reason for the dip in bulk cargo was that the German steel industry is using more efficient blast furnaces that require less ores and scrap metal. Coal throughput was also down 0.9 percent as the mild winter and more renewable energy generation in Germany created less demand for coal at power plants.
Bulk grain products were up 9.2 percent due to strong wheat exports and imports of corn and soy.
Competition from new tank terminals in other ports and a decline in the handling of naphtha accounted for drop in mineral oil products. Naphtha is a feedstock for many chemicals and European chemical manufacturers are facing difficulty competing against cheaper products produced in other parts of the world.
Liquid bulk as a whole fell 2.1 percent to 202.5 million tons. The category accounts for 45 percent of total throughput through the port, so a small decline can have a big impact on the total throughput figure.
Officials said they expected 1 percent growth in tonnage again in 2015, with the growth primarily coming from the container sector.
Port Director Allard Castelein said more effort is being put into supporting the energy and chemical sectors, as well as bio fuels.
New container capacity will gradually come onboard as APM Terminals’ new Maasvlakte 2 facility gears up operations.
Rotterdam tonnage grew 1 percent in 2014
