In the first quarter of this year, the Port of Rotterdam handled 110.1 million tonnes of goods, a decrease of -1.4% which was contained by the +3.3% increase in traffic which amounted to 32.5 million tonnes and was made with a handling of the containers equal to almost 3.3 million TEUs (+2.0%). In addition, to maintain The overall decline was limited by the increase, the first After eight consecutive quarters of decline, the number of goods at the landings amounted to 33.5 million tonnes (+1.1%). It is On the other hand, the downward trend in the volume of goods continued boarding which in the first three months of 2024 resulted in 76.6 million tonnes (-2.5%).

In the first quarter of this year, most of the other types of cargo, starting with other miscellaneous goods and 7.8 million tonnes, of which 6.3 million tonnes of rolling stock (-3.8%) and 1.5 million tonnes of goods conventional (+7.4%), totalled a decrease of -1.9%. In the liquid bulk have been handled globally 32.5 million tonnes (-3.1%), including 25.8 million tonnes tonnes of crude oil (-1.9%), 14.6 million tonnes of refined petroleum products -3.4%), 3.1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (+3.6%) and 9.2 million tonnes of other liquid loads (-7.6%). Dry bulk was 17.1 million tonnes (-4.5%), of which 7.2 million tonnes of minerals and scrap (+16.5%), 5.4 million tonnes of coal (-27.4%), 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural products (-23.9%) and 2.1 million tonnes of other dry bulk (+93.7%).

"Traffic data," commented the administrator delegate and chief operating officer of the Port Authority of Rotterdam, Boudewijn Siemons - show limited imports of raw materials and exports of finished products. That tells us whereas European industrial production is still suffering from high energy prices and low demand from major sectors that are declining such as construction, the and the automotive industry. From the growth of the container traffic - Siemons noted - we see the first signs of recovery in world trade. However, these timid Signals remain highly uncertain due to the growing global tensions'.

With regard to geopolitical crises, the Port Authority The Dutch Commission has announced that the situation in the Red Sea has led to a significant reduction in January and February (-24.5%) in the number of ships in the port of Rotterdam and a decrease in the number of ships in the port of -13.7% of goods from Asia due to delays and departures deleted. The Port Authority noted that the change in services the choice of alternative routes, has led to supply chain adjustments are needed, while demand for of goods - specified the Port Authority - is remained virtually unchanged and now the situation is below control, with many more ship arrivals in March (+11.5%) and with the recovery of volumes from Asia and Positive developments also compared to other world markets. To this end, - the body specified - a cautious recovery also contributes economy and the reduction of inventories.

In addition, the Port Authority has specified that this The change in scenario also led to a strong increase (+29.0%) feeder traffic from the port of Rotterdam to the ports of Mediterranean since, with the ships that travel the route through the Cape of Good Hope instead of that through the Suez Canal, goods destined for the Mediterranean are shipped to ports in the region on feeder ships departing from Rotterdam.