The Port of Rotterdam saw its container volume decrease by 11.5% in the first quarter of the year, compared with the same period in 2022, falling to 3.2 million TEUs.
This decline had already started in 2022 due to the elimination of volumes to and from Russia. According to the port’s statement, as the war in Ukraine only began in late February, the impact on throughput volumes in the first quarter of last year was still limited.
Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, commented, “As expected, the year 2023 started with a slight decline in throughput. Especially in the container segment, we faced a decline in volumes due to high inflation and a weakening economy. Results in the other segments mainly show growth and confirm that dependence on Russian energy flows has been further reduced in line with the sanctions. For the remainder of the year, we expect a limited decline in throughput volumes due to the uncertainties posed by the current geopolitical situation and high inflation.”
Additionally, the decline in box imports from Asia (-14.2% in TEUs) due to lower demand for physical goods due to accumulated stocks and inflation was also reflected in the throughput figures. Despite the strong improvement in chain performance, no transshipment has been recovered yet in the first quarter.
“These volumes moved to smaller ports due to congestion during the pandemic,” pointed out the port in its statement.
Meanwhile, the major European port reported that it handled 1.5% less freight in the first three months of the year than in the same period in 2022. In total, 111.7 million tonnes were handled.
The fall mainly concerned the throughput of containers and freight in the breakbulk segment (Roll-on/Roll-off and other general cargo), while throughput in the mineral oil products, crude oil, LNG, iron ore & scrap, agribulk and coal segments increased.
Liquid bulk throughput increased by 5.6% to 54.3 million tonnes, the dry bulk segment showed a slight growth of 0.2% to 17.9 million tonnes and the total throughput in the breakbulk segment (Roll-on/Roll-off and other general cargo) decreased by 6% to 7.9 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2023.
