Rotterdam box volume up 14pc to 11.1 million TEU in 2010

CONTAINER volume through Rotterdam increased 14.4 per cent to a record 11.1 million TEU in 2010, an increase that was below Antwerp`s more than 16 per cent, but ahead of Zeebrugge`s rise of 7.4 per cent, observed London`s Containerisation International.

"More and more ships of steadily increasing size are being used on this route and these are able to call at Rotterdam more easily than at competing ports," said Port of Rotterdam CEO Hans Smits. "Transhipment of cargo heading for the Baltic region also did well."


Despite the overall growth figures, Rotterdam suffered a marked slowdown in the last quarter with the 2.7 million TEU handled being up just 5.3 per cent on the 2.56 million TEU year on year.