At 469.0 million tonnes, the port of Rotterdam’s total throughput volume ended up slightly higher in 2018 than in 2017, which was itself a record year (467.4 million tonnes).
Container transshipment was the engine of growth again, with a 4.5% increase in tonnage. Measured in TEUs, the increase was 5.7% and the annual total was 14.5 million TEUs – also a record. Still, crude oil, mineral oil products and agribulk throughput fell compared to 2017. Throughput of LNG (+163.6%) and biomass (+31.6%) saw further spectacular rises last year.
High Investments
Gross investments rose 91% to € 408.1 million (2017: € 213.8 million), the highest amount since the construction of Maasvlakte 2. By far the largest part of this amount was used to further improve the logistical accessibility of the port of Rotterdam, for example by constructing the Container Exchange Route on the Maasvlakte, the Princess Amalia Viaduct and relocating the port railway via the Theemsweg route. The Port Authority’s internationalisation strategy was given a boost by the acquisition of a minority stake in the Brazilian port of Pecém.
Liquid Bulk
With the exception of LNG, liquid bulk recorded lower throughput volumes in all subcategories. The throughput of crude oil decreased slightly, due in part to somewhat lower refining margins. The throughput of mineral oil products fell mainly as a result of less fuel oil coming into and leaving the port. The huge increase in LNG throughput was mainly caused by transshipments of LNG, originating from the Yamal field (Northern Russia), from ice-class LNG tankers to "normal" LNG tankers, which then transported the cargo onwards to Asia and elsewhere.
Dry Bulk
Despite the market being under considerable pressure, the dry bulk segment showed only a slight downturn in throughput (-3%). In the coal subcategory, the consolidation strategy that is being used appears to be working well for Rotterdam: throughput rose by 2.3%. Thermal coal remained at the same level as the previous year. The throughput of coke coal rose thanks to attracted cargo packages for Germany. Iron ore throughput fell in 2018, among other reasons due to the renovation of a blast furnace and because of stagnating demand from the steel industry. The fall in agribulk throughput in Rotterdam was partly caused by the shift of cargo packages to Amsterdam.
Containers
A key factor in the increase in containers being handled in 2018 was the growth in numbers of transshipment and full import containers. Container exports developed less strongly, partly due to Chinese import restrictions on waste flows. The shortsea segment suffered from slowdowns in the British and Russian economies.
Roll on/Roll off and Other Breakbulk
In RoRo transhipment too, which ended the year slightly up, the British RoRo trade showed less growth, probably due to the effects of Brexit uncertainty on the British economy. The transshipment of other breakbulk cargo was around the same as the volume in 2017.
Port Authority’s Financial Results
The Port of Rotterdam Authority recorded a turnover of € 707.2 million in 2018 (2017: € 712.1 million). On the income side, both port dues and lease revenue fell. The net result excluding taxes amounted to € 254.1 million (2017: € 247.3 million) mainly as a result of lower interest charges.
2019
The Port Authority expects throughput volume to increase slightly in 2019, with container sector growth being lower than the exceptional levels seen in previous years. The Port Authority is implementing a ‘both-and’ strategy: strengthening the existing port industrial complex and at the same time embracing new initiatives in the fields of energy transition and digitisation.
