Rotterdam in top Russian container trade

10/18/2011

In 2010, the port of Rotterdam handled 445,530 TEU in the direct trade with Russia, 57% more than in 2009. (1). It surpassed the port of Hamburg, traditional market leader, which handled 440,000 TEU in 2010. (2) Before 2010, the difference between the two ports amounted to 40 to 50%.

Although Rotterdam realised the highest growth percentage, in absolute numbers Bremen/Bremerhaven is in the lead now, with 467,000 TEU.

In normal circumstances it is likely that Hamburg catches up again in 2011. When the difficult market situation leads to consolidation of liner operations again, as in 2009-2010, the chances for other ports to keep their position are likely to improve.

Containers directly to/from Russia (in TEU)



In 2010 Russia stepped up one position, to the 7th, in the ‘Rotterdam container top 10’.

Ust-Luga
The growing importance of Rotterdam for containers to and from Russia is illustrated and emphasized by the first international presentation, of the new Ust-Luga container terminal, taking place in Rotterdam. September 28, Mr. Egor Govorukhin, Vice President, Sales & Marketing of National Container Company, the largest container terminal operator of Russia, informed the port business community. The terminal is situated along deep water and is less ice sensitive as compared to St. Petersburg. The starting capacity of the terminal is 440,000 TEU and can be extended to 3 million TEU.

(1) Besides this, a considerable amount of containers from/to both Hamburg and Rotterdam is transhipped via Finnish ports, especially Kotka/Hamina, and transported onwards by truck to Russia. Container traffic between Rotterdam and the Finnish ports rose by 36% in 2010, from 165,000 TEU to 224,000 TEU.
(2) Figures Rotterdam by CBS, the Dutch national bureau of statistics. Figures Hamburg by HPA and, for 2010, by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

Port of Rotterdam Authority press release