Goods throughput in the port of Rotterdam increased over the first nine months of 2010 by 13.4 percent to 321 million tonnes, announced the Rotterdam port authority.
Virtually all categories of goods showed a positive trend with iron ore and scrap up 112 percent and container throughput up nine percent. Dry bulk handling shot up 40 percent to 65 million tonnes. Only agricultural bulk was down seven percent.
"The growth is levelling off, but is still slightly higher than expected," said Hans Smits, Chief Executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
"The port continues to profit from strong European exports, for which a lot of raw materials also need to be imported. Total throughput is now exactly at the 2008 level."
The handling of agribulk (grains, seeds, animal feed ingredients) fell by seven percent to 6.0 million tonnes, due to the use of European rather than overseas raw materials such as rapeseed. Total losses were limited by the four percent rise in the export of grains arriving by train from Central Europe.
Both incoming (19 percent) and outgoing (12 percent) trade in containers rose by double figures. Taken together, 84 million tonnes were handled, which is 15 percent more than in 2009 and close on 2.0 million tonnes more than in 2008. Measured in twenty-foot container units, the growth is even more pronounced: up 17 percent to 8.4 million TEU.
