July 21 - The Port of Rotterdam handled 3 percent less cargo in the first half of 2016 than it did in the same period last year.
Dry bulk cargo volumes decreased by 9.9 percent year-on-year; liquid bulk fell 1.1 percent; while container throughput was down 2.3 percent.
The port noted that there had been a number of large-scale projects in the offshore sector, but overall the industry has been negatively affected by lower investments in oil and gas extraction.
Turnover in the first half of the year amounted to EUR336.9 million (USD370.9 million) - a EUR2 million (USD2.2 million) decrease compared with the first six months of 2015.
The Port of Rotterdam explained that a number of factors are currently leading to uncertainty, but also present opportunities for the gateway.
According to the gateway, these factors include: the Paris Agreement on climate change; the consequences of Brexit; ongoing pressure on oil prices; digitalisation; and the establishment of new container line alliances.
Oversize cargo is lifted at the Port of Rotterdam.
