Amsterdam port region achieves record transhipment volume in 2013

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The seaports of Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad achieved, according tentative figures, record transhipment volume totalling 95 million tonnes in 2013. This represents an increase of 1% compared to 2012. The last record was set in 2008 when the transhipment volume amounted to 94.8 million tonnes.

The total transhipment volume of Port of Amsterdam amounted to 78.5 million tonnes in 2013. This equals an increase of 2% compared to 2012 and sets a new record. Growth was achieved primarily in the agribulk (+17%) and coal (+14%) segments. Imports rose by 3.5% to nearly 52.2 million tonnes in Amsterdam. Exports decreased by 1% to 26.3 million tonnes.

Other North Sea Canal ports
The tentative transhipment volumes of the other North Sea Canal seaports are as follows: IJmuiden decreased slightly in 2013 (3.4%) to 16.3 million tonnes. The transhipment volume in Beverwijk rose by 9% to 260,000 tonnes, while the transhipment volume in Zaanstad increased by 95% to 230,000 tonnes.

Transhipment of key goods flows in Port of Amsterdam
The transhipment of liquid bulk cargo fell by approximately 5% to 41,1 million tonnes. The transhipment of dry bulk cargo rose by approximately 11% to 33.7 million tonnes. The transhipment of containers and mixed cargo rose by 12% to 3.7 million tonnes mainly due to the increase in mixed cargo (+40%).

The number of sea cruise ships that called at the port decreased slightly to 137 (2012: 144). A number of cruise ships had to divert to another port due to strong winds.

Port of Amsterdam CEO Dertje Meijer: ‘I am extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve together in 2013. The corporatization on 1 April 2013 means we can now anticipate market developments more effectively and we have now also set a new record. The recovery in the port region began in 2010 and is continuing steadily. We see this reflected in these excellent figures.’



About Port of Amsterdam
Port of Amsterdam is Western Europe’s fourth largest port and plays a large role in the transhipment and processing of energy products. The North Sea Canal Area tranships in 2013 approximately 95 million tonnes of goods, with Port of Amsterdam accounting for approximately 78 million tonnes of this amount. A total of 59,000 people work in the port region either at companies in the port or at port-related companies.

Approximately 26,000 of these people work in Amsterdam. Havenbedrijf Amsterdam NV is committed to being a smart port and to adding value for customers and the environs in a sustainable and innovative manner. It seeks to promote growth at companies, while still taking a careful approach to the available space and the quality of water, soil and air. Port of Amsterdam aims to achieve this through intensive cooperation with partners in the business community (national and international), city and region.

Port of Amsterdam, press release