Total cargo throughput in the Port of Rotterdam fell by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 103.7 million tonnes compared to 110.1 million tonnes in the same period last year.
The decline was driven by lower volumes of crude oil, oil products, iron ore, and coal. Dry bulk throughput dropped by 8.6%, mainly due to a 28.1% fall in iron ore volumes and a 17.3% decline in coal. However, agribulk rose by 22.7% and other dry bulk surged by 44.1%, thanks in part to a new dry bulk terminal.
Liquid bulk volumes also decreased by 8.8% to 48 million tonnes. This was due to weaker refining margins in north-west Europe, which reduced crude oil demand and shifted diesel and kerosene flows to Asia.
Container throughput grew by 2.2% in TEU terms (3.3 million TEU), but fell by 1.1% in weight. This is attributed to a drop in heavier export containers, poor weather, and operational issues at the HPD2 terminal in early 2025. March saw improved productivity. Transatlantic traffic dropped by 23.1% due to two services shifting to other ports, while container volumes from Asia rose 8.4%.
Breakbulk rose slightly by 0.6% to 7.8 million tonnes. RoRo volumes declined by 1.8%, impacted by low UK economic growth and road transport competition. Other breakbulk rose 11.2%, aided by project cargo such as tubular piles for the Porthos project.
Port CEO Boudewijn Siemons cited global uncertainty due to U.S. trade tensions and geopolitical instability, emphasizing the need for a competitive European investment climate.
