In the first three months of this year the traffic in the port of Rotterdam has decreased of -1.5%

Overall, in the first quarter of 2022, the port of call Dutch handled 113.6 million tons of goods compared to 115.2 million in the corresponding period of last year year. The reduction was therefore the effect of the consequences of the first month of the war, which had consequences especially on the flows of energy products: in 2021, in fact, about 30% of the crude oil, 25% of liquefied natural gas and 20% of petroleum and coal products came from Russia, volumes to which are added other Russian exports that passed through the port of Rotterdam such as those of steel, copper, aluminum and nickel. In addition, last year 8% of traffic containerized enlivened by the Dutch port of call was related to the Russia. The Dutch port authority has specified that the consequences of sanctions against Russia and the decision of the companies to continue the commercial activity with the Russia still make their effect felt in almost all the sectors of activity.

In the first three months of this year the only bulk traffic liquid handled by the Dutch port amounted to 51.5 million tons, with a decrease of -1.0%. The volume of crude oil has remained almost unchanged being amounted to 25.5 million tons (0.2%), while accentuated is was the reduction of the traffic of petroleum products, and especially fuel oil, which stood at 13.5 million tons (-20.5%). The Port Authority has explained that this was mainly caused by the reduction in the traffic of heating oil from from Russia. On the other hand, both gas traffic is growing strongly natural liquefied that totaled 2.7 million tons (+77.7%), and volumes of other liquid bulk, including products chemicals, vegetable oils and renewable products, which were found pairs to 9.9 million tons (+22.2%).

Traffic in the solid bulk sector recorded a slight reduction having been equal to about 18.1 million tons compared to 18.4 million in the first three months of 2021. Iron ore and scrap are decreased of -19.5% to 5.6 million of tons. The Dutch port authority has announced that the high Energy costs and falling steel demand have led to a collapse in German steel production, reduction in demand that was mainly caused by disruptions in the supply chain that resulted in a contraction of production. On the other hand, there was a slight increase in the traffic of coal, an energy source that is currently more economical for electricity generation compared to gas, which rose by +3.5% to 3.9 million tons, with a growth in demand for coal for power plants that is was faster than coke for blast furnaces.

In the first quarter of this year, containerized traffic accused a reduction of -5.4% being result of 35.6 million of tons, volume made with a container handling equal to 3.6 million teu (-1.4%). The Dutch Port Authority has specified that the decrease was caused by the contraction of -21.5% of transhipment traffic which is result of 6.0 million tonnes. Other miscellaneous goods grew by +19.0% to 8.4 million tons, with the rolling stock results pairs to 6,7 million tons (+20.4%) and the conventional goods at 1.7 million tons (+13.7%). Also the Dutch Port Authority, like other port authorities worldwide, highlighted that the rise in the volumes of goods conventional is also the effect of the regression in progress of the containerization process determined by current tariffs very high container transport.