The Port of Rotterdam Authority has revealed that overall throughput figures for breakbulk cargo, including fresh produce, increased by 18 per cent during the first half of 2010, up to some 3.3m tonnes.
However, conventional fruit transshipments have been suffering for some time, according to the Authority, as a result of the continuing process of containerisation and the problems at Seabrex, which eventually resulted in bankruptcy.
'The relaunch by Sea-Invest as Rotterdam Fruit Wharf offers prospects which should take real shape with the construction of a new 'Cool Port' on the south bank,' the Port Authority noted in a news release.
Major drivers of the breakbulk throughput increase had been steel, slabs and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium.
The Port Authority noted that there had been fruitful investments in modernisation through the first half of the year, on the Maasvlakte, Steinweg but also in the Waalhaven area at Rhenus Logistics.
'In this area, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and businesses are also redeveloping the RDM-East site for the handling of project cargo and metals,' the Port Authority added.
