Port of Amsterdam Records Growth

In the first six months of 2002, goods transhipments in the Ports of Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Zaanstad, Beverwijk and IJmuiden/Velsen) increased by 3% to reach 35.9 million tons compared to the same period last year. This was due mainly to Amsterdam and IJmuiden which showed increases of 2.2% to 25.7 million tons and 6.9% to 9.9 million tons respectively. All cargo categories improved performance. Liquid bulk rose by 3.6% to 8.8 million tons. Dry bulk movement grew by 3.4% to 23.6 million tons. General cargo recorded a slight increase (0.8%) to reach a total of 3.5 million tons.

Hans Gerson, Executive Director of the Amsterdam Port Authority, is pleased with the results. “This means that we are one of the best operating ports in the Hamburg-Le Havre range. Once again we expect to end the year with a record, transhippment of over 70 million tons of goods.” According to Gerson, the ongoing growth clearly shows that Amsterdam is becoming ever more significant to the national economy. However, he is concerned that this growth of traffic is beginning to raise pressure to the levels of congestion at the only wide lock in the coastal port of IJmuiden. “If we want to maintain the great employment rate and the levels of added value the port generates we will soon have to come to a decision on the construction of a second, major lock at IJmuiden.”

Dry bulk (+3.4%; 23.6 million tons)

Over the past six months transport of agricultural bulk (grain, cattle feed and oil-bearing seeds) increased by 4% to reach 5.5 million tons. Growth was mainly thanks to demand for cattle feed as a result of the ban on the use of animal meal in feed. Due to presence of large stocks demand for coal dropped as a result of which coal transhipments declined by 4.2% to 9.4 million tons. On the other hand demand for scrap was high and in the first quarter also for ores, which helped this cargo category increase by 3% up to 4.6 million tons. Transport of fertilizers almost doubled in the first six months. Due to increasing demand from agriculture and the favorable exchange rate against the US dollar, transshipment of fertilizers booked a 94% gain up to 846,000 tons. Other dry bulk (including sand, gravel and minerals) continued to growth due to the ongoing boom in construction. In total 3.3 million tons (+14.7%) of dry bulk were transshipped in the past six months.

Liquid bulk (+3.6%; 8.8 million tons)

Due to shortages in the petrol market and Amsterdam’s strong position in blending oils, transshipment of oil products increased by 8.4% to reach 7.5 million tons. Other liquid bulk (including chemicals) dropped by 20.7% to just over 1 million tons. Existing supplies and stricter EU rules with regard to the transport of these products were the cause for this decline.

General cargo (+0.8%; 3.5 million tons)

Despite increasing competition, Amsterdam’s role as an important cocoa (processing) port, saw cocoa supply grow. In the past six months 5.1% more was transshipped than the same period last year reaching over 307,000 tons. Roll-on/roll-off transport was disappointing. Total transshipment was no more than 348,000 tons (-22.8). Other general cargo (including packed cargo and bagged goods) increased by 8.5%, to reach 2.8 million tons.