Port of Rotterdam container volumes jump 9.3% in 2017

The port saw substantial increases in eight of the ten market segments during the first half of the year.    The Port of Rotterdam saw container volumes increase 9.3 percent in TEUs and 10.4 percent in metric tons during the first six months of 2017, according to the port authority.
   Overall port throughput increased 3.9 percent, showing growth in eight of the ten port market segments. According to the port, a total of 283 million metric tons of goods were handled in the first half of the year.  
   Dry bulk increased 5.2 percent and break bulk cargo increased 10.8 percent, with only mineral oil products and liquid bulk seeing decreasing volumes.  
   The market share of the port, compared with ports in the Hamburg-LeHavre range, increased from 29 percent in 2016 to 30.9 percent in 2017 within the container sector.
   So far this year, Rotterdam has made infrastructure strides, including signing contracts to develop a tank terminal with BP for liquid products at the port, continued development of the Theemsweg Route and rerouting sections of rail, and inked a deal to create a reefer service center at the former City Terminal at the port.