The Port of Rotterdam has released its throughput results for 2009 with the effects of the global economic downturn clearly showing, as total goods throughput fell 8.5 per cent year-on-year to 385m tonnes.
According to Port Authority figures, imports shrank by 13 per cent to 272m tonnes through the 12-month period, with exports increasing 5 per cent to 113m tonnes.
Bulk was down 29 per cent on the previous year to 67m tonnes, led by a drop in agribulk of 22 per cent, while general cargo dropped 9 per cent.
'Considering the circumstances, we cannot be dissatisfied,' said Hans Smits, chief executive officer of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. 'After hitting rock-bottom in the second quarter, throughout has been improving slightly every month and virtually all the investments are going ahead. Moreover, Rotterdam is doing better than its main rivals.'
Mr Smits added that while signs of improvement were showing, he remained cautious, given the fact that many of the port's clients were experiencing difficulties that were unlikely to ease off during 2010.
'The best medicine for this is growth, partly through an increase in our market shares,' he noted. 'We therefore intend to continue with our active commercial policy. As a result of this, among other things, I hope that we will be able to break through the 400m tonne barrier again next year. That means growth in throughput considerably over 3 per cent.'
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