AMSTERDAM: The seaports in the North Sea Canal Area, which includes the ports of Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad, once again posted growth in transhipment in the first half of 2015. This time transhipment rose to 51.7 million tonnes, which is a 1.3% increase compared to the same period of 2014. Port of Amsterdam is the largest port in the region and saw its transhipment grow by 0.8% to 42.4 million tonnes. The greatest growth has been in the transhipment of oil products, a field in which port of Amsterdam has traditionally been strong.
Transhipment grew in IJmuiden to 8.9 million tonnes (+2.7%), Zaanstad to 200,000 tonnes (+69%) and Beverwijk to 131,000 tonnes (+17%).
Greatest growth in liquid bulk cargo
The growth in transhipment in Amsterdam is primarily attributable to the increase in the transhipment of oil products by 5% to 22.3 million tonnes. The transhipment of coal decreased by 7% to 9.6 million tonnes. While the transhipment of containers fell by 17% to 294,000 tonnes (= 25,170 TEUs), the transhipment of other mixed cargo, including RoRo, rose by 14% to 1.4 million tonnes.
Agribulk, including fertilizers, decreased by 13% to 4.1 million tonnes. Other dry bulk rose to 3.1 million tonnes and other liquid bulk rose to 1.6 million tonnes, marking an increase of 6% and 20% respectively compared to the same period of last year. 56 sea cruise ships and 982 river cruise ships called at Amsterdam in the first half of 2015, representing a respective increase of 1 and 74 compared to the same period of last year.
Imports and exports
Imports in port of Amsterdam decreased by 4% to 27 million tonnes in the first half of 2015. In contrast, exports grew by 10% to 15.5 million tonnes. The North Sea Canal Area also saw imports decrease to 31.9 million tonnes (-9%), while exports rose to 19.8 million tonnes (+25%).
Rest of 2015
Port of Amsterdam CEO Dertje Meijer: ‘There has once again been growth in the first half of 2015. It is a good result. We are also optimistic about the second half of this year. We expect to once again see growth in transhipment, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.’
