Container throughput increased by 2.2 per cent in TEU terms in the first quarter, although it fell in tonnage
The Port of Rotterdam has rerealed that total throughput fell by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
In the first three months this year, throughput was 103.7mn tonnes compared to 110.1mn tonnes in the first quarter of 2024.
The decline was mainly due to less throughput of crude oil and oil products, iron ore and coal, while the throughput of agribulk, other dry bulk goods and containers increased.
Import duties imposed by the US on goods exported from Europe had yet to have an effect on first-quarter throughput, it confirmed.
In terms of TEU, container throughput increased by 2.2 per cent to 3.3mn TEU in the first quarter, while in tonnage terms throughput showed a decrease of 1.1 per cent.
The difference was caused by an 8.1 per cent decrease in the export of full containers, the port noted.
“The first three months of this year were characterised by a high degree of volatility in world trade as a result of threatened import duties in the United States and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East,” explained Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority.
”This volatility has led to uncertainty among companies in the areas of trade and investment. We see this reflected in throughput volumes and the willingness to invest.
”In these uncertain times, it remains as important as ever that, together with national and European governments, the Port of Rotterdam continues to work towards a competitive European investment climate,” he added.
