Cargo throughput in the port of Rotterdam slightly decreased in 2024
Throughput in the port of Rotterdam declined by 0.7% in 2024. Total throughput amounted to 435.8 million tonnes, compared to 438.8 million tonnes in the same period last year. The decline in throughput is mainly due to lower coal and crude oil throughput. Growth was recorded in the container segment.
Driven by increasing consumer spending, throughput grew by 2.8% to 13.8 million TEU. Throughput in the iron ore & scrap, mineral oil products, and other dry bulk segments also increased. The Port Authority had a strong financial year. The solid financial position enables the Port Authority to make significant investments in infrastructure for a future-proof port. For example, construction has started on the CO2 transport and storage project Porthos, and the Port Authority has invested in enhancing the digital resilience of the port of Rotterdam by setting up a national cybersecurity platform and further rolling out the Secure Chain.
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority: ‘Last year, we found ourselves as a stable port in turbulent international waters. Geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts impacted the global economy, leading to market uncertainty. Economic growth in Europe lagged behind other regions, which is reflected in throughput and business investments in the port of Rotterdam. Despite global conflicts, we have demonstrated resilience as a port and continue to invest in the port of the future.’
Social value
The Port Authority aims to develop a future-proof port in harmony with its surroundings. Connecting the city and the port is a key priority for the Port Authority. Over the past year, new collaborations have been established with partners in Rotterdam South, such as the Theatre Zuidplein. Through the Port Environment Fund, the Port Authority continues to invest in the quality of the living environment in the city and the region. A pilot programme has also been launched with port consultation hours for residents at various neighbourhood hubs, and the construction of the Portlantis port experience centre has been completed.
Energy and raw materials transition
Over the past year, several projects have been launched that contribute to the energy transition. The construction of the CO2 transport and storage project Porthos has started. In the second half of the year, the construction of the compressor station, a key component of this project, began. As of 2026 the captured CO2 will be pressurised at the compressor station, before being transported via an offshore pipeline to a depleted gas field beneath the North Sea. The construction of the hydrogen pipeline through the port and Shell’s hydrogen plant is also in full swing. Additionally, new agreements for the use of shore power have been signed with container terminals on the Maasvlakte. The shore power installation for Cruise Terminal Rotterdam is now complete and will be commissioned after a testing phase in the spring of 2025.
Clarity has also been provided on the development of the Delta Rhine Corridor (DRC). While a four-year delay was announced earlier last year for the development of hydrogen and CO2 pipelines, a decision was made at the end of the year to prioritise these infrastructures. The hydrogen pipeline is now scheduled for completion in 2031/2032, and the CO2 pipeline in 2032/2033. The Port of Rotterdam Authority welcomes this decision by the Minister for Climate and Green Growth and continues to push for further acceleration, as these connections are crucial for the sustainability of industry in Rotterdam and the European hinterland.
More infrastructure and new solutions to relieve the electricity grid are needed to support the sustainability transition of Rotterdam’s industry. Companies in the port complex that aim to become more sustainable face challenges related to permits, nitrogen regulations, high electricity tariffs, high energy prices, slow market development, and increasing pressure on available space. Therefore, the Port of Rotterdam Authority supports the call for a clear and consistent industrial policy and reduced regulatory pressure from the Dutch government and the EU to facilitate the energy and raw materials transition, retain industry, and provide the opportunity for transformation.
Digitalisation and resilience
Progress was made in 2024 in strengthening the resilience of the port and the supply chain via Rotterdam. The cyber threat to ports is increasing every day. Cyber incidents impact the entire supply chain due to the close interconnectedness of the various parties. To better withstand these threats, the port authorities under the Dutch Seaports Association (BOZ) – Groningen Seaports, North Sea Port, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Moerdijk, and Port of Amsterdam – have decided to collaborate with companies in their regions to enhance the digital resilience of the port ecosystem. Stichting FERM, which is already active for the ports of Rotterdam and Moerdijk, will be transformed into a national cybersecurity platform for the Dutch seaports united in the BOZ.
In the fight against drug-related crime, the Port Authority supports the rollout of the Secure Chain. This public-private partnership aims to enhance the digital resilience of supply chains against crime and theft. The core principle of the Secure Chain is that each link in the supply chain explicitly identifies the next link. As a result, it is no longer possible to unlawfully collect a container from the terminal. All major shipping lines and container terminals now operate through the Secure Chain, and since its launch, more than 630,000 import containers in the port of Rotterdam have been handled securely and reliably. In February 2025, the final shipping regions – Asia and Oceania – will be added.