The container sector, up by 5.8% (volume) and breakbulk, with 12.1% growth, did exceptionally well. Oil products fell the most, by 8.1%. An extra 4.8% of crude oil passed through the port. Dry bulk fell by 0.7%.

Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “In 2015 we expect the same growth in throughput as last year: 1%. This year too, the main growth is expected in the container sector. In the coming years, we will nurture the large, existing sectors in the port, whilst also focusing strongly on innovation and broadening the range of activities in the port. We need both for a healthy future.”

During this annual presentation, Castelein also paid plenty of attention to the challenges facing the port. “We are seeing major changes not only in the energy sector and the chemical industry, but also in logistics”, according to Allard Castelein. “So that the port can continue to be a strong pillar of our prosperity in the long term, we are working with business on innovation and on broadening the range of activities in the port. We can already see evidence of this in the increase in offshore activities, but the energy and chemical sector also need to become more sustainable. We are focusing on increasing efficiency in industry and on developing bio-based industry. For the container sector the development of the hinterland connections is particularly important. This year the new container terminals on Maasvlakte 2 will be busy starting up; from 2016 onwards, however, there will actually be extra capacity for further growth.’’

Fall in liquid bulk

Liquid bulk throughput fell by 2.1% to 202.5 million tonnes. This market sector accounts for 45% of total throughput in Rotterdam, so a limited decline can have a big impact on the total throughput figure.

Crude oil throughput was 4.8% up. There were fewer maintenance shutdowns at the refineries and the capacity utilisation was higher.

The categorymineral oil products fell the most in 2014, by 8.1%. The most significant factors were the competition from new tank terminals in other ports and a decline in the handling of naphtha. The latter is an important feedstock for the chemical industry. This sector is battling against difficult market conditions in Europe. Actually, there has been strong growth in the throughput of oil products during the last ten years: in 2014, despite the decline, more than twice as many mineral oil products were handled than in 2004.

LNG throughput is still modest in scale (1.2 million tonnes), but did experience tumultuous growth of 59.5%. This was due primarily to the re-export of LNG.

The category other liquid bulk consists mainly of chemical products. The main reason behind the 7.4% decline is the fact that the European chemical industry finds it difficult to compete with that overseas. Energy and feedstocks are considerably cheaper elsewhere in the world.