|
Liquid bulk The throughput of liquid bulk increased by 8% to 49 million tonnes. Deliveries of crude oil fell by over 400,000 tonnes, equivalent to the cargo of one-and-a-half very large tankers, to barely 24 million tonnes. This level was as expected, given the low occupancy levels, around 70%, of the West-European refineries. The cause of this is the continuing low demand for refinery products in Europe, and increasing competition from refineries outside Europe. The delivery and shipment of mineral oil products decreased by 2.8 million tonnes to 18 million tonnes. The throughput of gas oil remained constant, but that of naphtha, petrol and kerosene and the shipment of fuel oil declined in comparison with the same period in 2013. Because the prices in the short term are higher than those in the longer term (‘backwardation’), storing products is not profitable. This leads to lower occupation levels in the tank terminals. The handling of other liquid bulk cargo fell by over a million tonnes to 7 million. The transfer of chemical basic products, around 60% of ‘other liquid’, fell, due partly to lower production from the refineries. Vegetable oils and biofuels were also loaded and discharged less. Dry bulk The total throughput of dry bulk cargo increased by 15% to 23 million tonnes. The delivery of ore rose by over 9% as a result of further concentration of ore supplies for European steel plants via Rotterdam. From here, the ore is forwarded in smaller seagoing vessels to Bremen and Dunkirk and by inland shipping to places including Ghent. The transfer of coal rose by almost one million to eight million tonnes. The majority of this growth was to do with low transfer in March last year, while the average transfer in the first three months of this year remained reasonably stable. Late last year, more was bought in due to uncertainly about supplies from Colombia. Due to the mild winter, no extra supply of energy coal occurred in the winter months. The throughput of agribulk increased strongly by 1.1 million tonnes as a result of growth in maize throughput from Ukraine. The handling of other dry bulk (building materials, minerals, biomass) realised a growth of almost 400,000 tonnes to 3.5 million tonnes. This suggests a more favourable outlook in the construction, metals and chemicals industries. Containers, general cargo Container throughput rose in tonnes by over one per cent to a good 30 million tonnes, and remained equal in units: 2.9 million TEU. This growth involved both deep-sea (supply from/shipment to Asia and North America) and the short-sea market. The transit to the Baltic Sea countries also increased through relocation of transshipment cargo from other ports to Rotterdam. The delivery and shipment of short-sea containers to/from the Baltic Sea countries and the UK increased due to economic growth in those countries. The Ro-ro traffic improved by 9% (400,000 tonnes) thanks to the improving British economy. The throughput of other mixed cargo (steel, non-ferrous metals, paper, fruit, project cargo) also rose by 9% (over 100,000 tons). This increase mainly involved non-ferrous metals and project cargo. Appendix: Goods throughput in the Port of Rotterdam January-March 2013 and 2014 (PDF) Port of Rotterdam Authority press release |
Throughput of Port of Rotterdam practically stable
