Rotterdam passes 10 million-TEU, 400 million tons milestones

Rotterdam passes 10 million-TEU, 400 million tons milestones The Port of Rotterdam, Europe's leading container gateway, handled 10.8 million TEUs in 2007, up 12 percent year on year, according to the Dutch port's provisional figures.
   Rotterdam is the first port in Europe to pass the 10 million-TEU and 400 million tons cargo barriers, handling a total of 406 million tons in 2007, a rise of 6.4 percent over 2006.
   Imports increased by 4 percent to 300 million tons while exports gained almost 14 percent to 107 million tons. The increase was helped by record volumes in six sectors: mineral oil products, coal, containers, roll-on/roll-off, and other dry bulk and liquid bulk.
   Rotterdam Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Hans Smits said he expects a 4 percent throughput increase in 2008 to at least 420 million tons with containers up by about 10 percent.