Port of Rotterdam recorded total throughput of 323.2 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2026, up 0.9% compared with the same period last year.
Growth was driven mainly by coal, other dry bulk, crude oil and mineral oil products, while iron ore and scrap, agribulk, LNG, other liquid bulk, container tonnage and breakbulk all declined.
Dry bulk throughput increased by 2.1%. Coal rose 15.3%, supported by higher coking coal volumes for European steel production and increased demand for thermal coal, while other dry bulk grew 15% on stronger demand for construction materials.
Iron ore and scrap fell 5.9%, with low river levels disrupting inland supply chains and increasing transport costs. Agribulk throughput declined 11.4%.
Liquid bulk increased 3.1%. Crude oil rose 2.1%, while oil products grew 11.1%, including a 31.9% increase in exports. LNG remained broadly stable, slipping 0.2%, while other liquid bulk fell 3.8%.
Container throughput measured in TEU edged up 0.1%, although tonnage declined 2.2%. Hinterland container volumes increased 7.2%, driven by an 8.9% rise in full import containers. Transhipment fell 20% as capacity constraints at Rotterdam’s deep-sea terminals diverted some flows to other ports.
Breakbulk throughput decreased 1.4%, with RoRo volumes up 0.7% and other breakbulk down 10.2%.
“Although low water levels, shifting energy flows and pressure on European industry have impacted various markets, we are seeing growth in major freight flows to and from the European hinterland,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority.
He added that continued investment in road, rail and inland waterway infrastructure remains essential to maintaining resilient European supply chains.
