According to the World Economic Forum in ‘The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012’, the Netherlands has the best port infrastructure in Europe. Globally, the Netherlands ranked second following Singapore.
Singapore came in third in 2010, whereas the Netherlands remained the world’s number two. Hong Kong, 2010’s number one, is the new number three. In the total competitiveness ranking, the Netherlands moved up from eight to seven especially because of the improved climate for innovation.
Major Investments up to 2009
The level of the current infrastructure is largely the result of major investment projects in Rotterdam between 1994 and 2009. Billions were spent on:
– roads and railways (the A15 Motorway, Port Railway Line/Betuwe Route),
– terminals (Maasvlakte),
– refineries/chemical industry (e.g. Shell, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, Indorama, Huntsman, Air Liquide, Air Products),
– tank storage (e.g. Vopak, Vitol, Botlek Tank Terminal, Odfjell, Rubis, Argos),
– energy (power, LNG, coal), and
– biofuels (Abengoa, Neste, Glencore).
€ 15 billion
From 2007 until 2015, investments will amount to almost €15 billion. The government earmarked € 2 billion for improving and increasing the capacity of the backbone of the port area: a 45 km. long road corridor between the Maasvlakte in the west and the hinterland. The Port of Rotterdam Authority spends some € 150 million a year on the maintenance and expansion of roads, quays, safety, the environment, IT systems, inland terminals etc. Trade and industry account for around € 10 billion. This sum is rather untouched by the recent macro economic ups and downs. In addition to all this, the Second Maasvlakte is to be built, costing around € 3 billion.
Source: https://www.portofrotterdam.com[Port of Rotterdam]
