The Port of Rotterdam Authority has published its 2019 throughput, recording volumes of 469.4 million tonnes in 2019, fractionally higher than in 2018 (469 million tonnes).
Investments by the Port Authority were again at a high level, with gross investments including participations amounting to €338.3 million (2018: €408.1 million). The net result excluding taxes amounted to €241 million (2018: €254.1 million).
Following a good start in the first six months of 2019, growth in container transhipment was almost negligible during the second six months of the year, the Port says. container throughput measured in tonnes grew by 2.5%. Measured in TEU the increase was 2.1% and the annual total was 14.8 million TEU.
The Port of Rottedam said that economic growth in the EU had declined , particularly as a consequence of reduced industrial production in Germany. Moreover, as a consequence of declining production and decreased growth in world trade, shipments from Asia were cancelled in November and December. The shortsea segment also experienced the effects of lower economic growth as well as competition with other ports, according to the Port.
Allard Castelein, the Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO, commented: “The success of a modern port cannot be measured by throughput tonnage alone. Our customers no longer just want increased throughput capacity, but demand a better, faster and, above all, a smarter port.”
