Throughput at the port of Rotterdam fell slightly by 0.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The decline is mainly due to a reduction in the throughput of agribulk, coal, other liquid bulk and breakbulk.
The throughput of iron ore and scrap metal, other dry bulk, crude oil, mineral oil products, LNG and containers (TEU) increased. Total throughput in the first three months of this year stood at 103.0 million tonnes, compared with 103.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2025.
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Impact Strait of Hormuz closure not felt yet
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted the global energy system. Rotterdam was dependent on countries in the Persian Gulf for ten per cent of its crude oil throughput and fourteen per cent of its oil product throughput. The impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on throughput in Rotterdam is barely visible in the first-quarter figures, but Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Boudewijn Siemons warns this ‘may become more pronounced in the second quarter.’
He adds: ‘At the same time, the growth in oil, oil products and containers shows that Rotterdam remains resilient as a European energy and logistics hub.’
Dry and liquid bulk
Dry bulk throughput fell by 4.3 per cent in Q1, mainly due to a sharp drop in agribulk volumes as last year’s temporary peak normalised. Coal throughput also declined (–9.8 per cent) following unusually high levels in 2025. In contrast, iron ore and scrap volumes rose by 5.3 per cent, supported by a modest recovery in German steel production. Other dry bulk increased by 4.6 per cent, driven by demand for construction and industrial materials.
Liquid bulk throughput rose by 2.2 per cent in Q1. Crude oil increased slightly (+1.7 per cent), with a sharp rise in refining margins in March following price hikes linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Oil product throughput grew by 10.3 per cent. It is striking that exports of oil products rose whilst imports fell. One possible explanation is that, just as in 2025, most oil products were in backwardation, which provides no incentive for storage. There has also been an increase in exports of gas oil / diesel to Spain and Gibraltar.
LNG throughput rose by 1.7 per cent due to higher demand from cold weather. In contrast, other liquid bulk declined by 7.2 per cent, mainly due to lower chemical production in Germany.
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Containers and breakbulk
Container throughput in Q1 was broadly stable (+0.3 per cent in TEU), but below expectations due to a terminal system update. Tonnage fell by 3.2 per cent, mainly because of a surge in empty container exports, especially to Asia. Inland container volumes grew strongly (+11 per cent), driven by Asia and North America, while overall throughput remains under pressure. It is expected that throughput volumes will only recover once the container terminal expansions have been completed.
Breakbulk declined by 1.5 per cent due to weak automotive, construction and machinery markets, reducing aluminium and steel volumes. RoRo traffic rose slightly (+1.6 per cent), supported by modest economic recovery in the UK.
Impact of Strait of Hormuz closure
In total, 19 million tonnes (4.4 per cent) of Rotterdam’s total annual throughput relates to countries in the Persian Gulf. This mainly comprises crude oil from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, kerosene from Kuwait, fuel oil from Saudi Arabia and gas oil/diesel from Qatar. LNG from Qatar does not come to Rotterdam. Around two-thirds of the LNG throughput in Rotterdam comes from the United States.
Asia is more dependent on imports of crude oil and petroleum products from the Middle East than Europe. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz led to rising prices for oil products in Asia immediately after it began. This increase was greater than in Europe due to the greater reliance on the Middle East. Due to higher prices in Asia, at least five tankers that were en route to Rotterdam have changed course to head for Asia. The consequences of this will contribute to lower inflows in the second quarter.
Imports of oil products from the Middle East will also be reflected in the figures for the second quarter, given the shipping time from that region. As the refineries in Rotterdam are operating at full capacity, this could lead to increased exports.
For the container sector, the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is limited. Direct container traffic to and from the Middle East accounts for 1.2 per cent of the total volume. The indirect effects of the war on the container sector could have a much greater impact through economic downturn and falling purchasing power.
Picture: Botlek Rotterdam (photo by Martens Multimedia).
