The Port of Rotterdam’s container throughput has decreased by 11.6 per cent to 3.2 million TEU in Q1 2023.
The decline had already started during 2022 due to the elimination of volumes to and from Russia, according to the port.
1.5 per cent less freight passed through the port than in Q1 2022, standing at 111.7 million total tonnes.
The drop mainly concerned the throughput of containers and freight in the breakbulk segment, including Ro-Ro and other general cargo.
Ro-Ro traffic decreased by 2.2 per cent to 6.6 million tonnes compared with the first quarter of last year.
This was due to lower demand from the UK, reported the Port of Rotterdam.
Throughput of other general cargo fell by 20.9 per cent to 1.4 tonnes. The port said that this was mainly caused by cargo shifting back to the container segment due to lower container rates.
The Port of Rotterdam also experienced a 14.2 per cent decline in imported TEU from Asia as there was lower demand for physical goods due to accumulated stocks and inflation, the port reported.
READ: Ukraine-Russia conflict rocks Port of Rotterdam box volumes
Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “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.”
Most recently, the port announced that it is developing an 11-hectare site on the Maasvlakte suitable for the construction of a large green hydrogen plant.
The formal tender process will start in the second half of 2023 with various parties having already indicated their interest.
