Rotterdam container throughput increases 9.3% in first half

The port of Rotterdam has registered growth in container throughput for the first six months of this year, aided by higher productivity of terminals and a sharp increase in feeder traffic.

From January to June 2017, Rotterdam port handled 6.7m teu of containers, up 9.3% compared to 6.09m teu recorded in the same period of last year, according to data from Port of Rotterdam Authority.

The port authority attributed part of the growth in throughput to increased productivity of two terminals on Maasvlakte 2, allowing them, with the terminals on Maasvlakte 1, to attract cargo from elsewhere.

“Given its location on the coastline and excellent infrastructure, Rotterdam is more easily accessible for the largest vessels than other ports,” the port authority stated.

“There was therefore a sharp increase in feeder traffic (22.6%), with intercontinental cargoes arriving in Rotterdam being taken to smaller ports in Northwest Europe and vice-versa. About one-third of the ‘moves’ on the terminals involve these transhipment containers.”

The improved productivity of the Maasvlakte 2 terminals, however, was impacted at end-June when the operations were compromised due to a cyber-attack, shutting down the terminals for several days.

“The incident indicates the importance of security for computer systems and networks, precisely now, when automation and digitalisation are becoming ever more important,” the Port of Rotterdam Authority said.