Due to Asian import demand weak, Europe's main maritime gateway of container volume continued to decline, following the neighboring Antwerp-Bruges (antwep-bruges), Rotterdam port first half throughput also fell sharply.
Cargo traffic at Europe's largest port is to decline by 8.2 per cent in the first half of 2023. Low container demand dragged down the nearby port of Antwerp-Bruges (Port of Antwerp-Bruges) in Belgium, with throughput down 5.2 per cent year-on-year to 6.4 million TEUs. The Port of Rotterdam handled 6.7 million TEUs in the first half of the year, down from 7.2 million TEUs in the same period last year. The biggest drop was in imports, with 3.4 million TEUs passing through the port's busy wharf down nearly 10 per cent year-on-year.
Rotterdam Port Authority said that high inflation brought uncertainty, is expected this year's throughput will be slightly lower, the rest of the year will not be a significant rebound.
a positive aspect is that the reliability of airline sailing schedules continued to improve in the first half of the year. The latest schedule reliability data from Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis showed that the punctuality rate of the Asia-Northern Europe route increased from 52.1 percent in January to 67.7 percent in May. The average delay for late ships increased from 5.42 days in January to 3.09 days in May. Rotterdam says this has led to improved throughput to ports and inland areas.
The Port of Rotterdam,, has also made significant progress in digitalization in the first half of this year. In January this year, the comprehensive planning tool provided by the Nextlogic was launched after an intensive pilot phase. The tool aims to solve the barge and river vessel congestion problem that has plagued the port for many years, so that the port's river vessels can be handled faster, so that the terminal can improve its terminal use.
While freight volumes remain weak, Rotterdam is investing heavily in new container terminal space, digitalisation and its green energy transition-related infrastructure.
Rotterdam Port Authority interim CEO and COO Boudewijn Siemons said that in the first half of the year in the construction and issuance of new land and terminal walls made great progress, for green hydrogen production and import and container areas of additional capacity to make room.
The port added that according to the regulations applicable to nitrogen emissions, the port needs more freedom and sufficient grid capacity in order to implement a series of projects in the energy transition field.
in the port's energy transition, 70 projects are underway at various stages, with green hydrogen playing a central role. Nextlogic expect that with more barge operators connecting in 2023, more than 90% of inland traffic at deep sea terminals will be routed using integrated planning tools.
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