Container volumes down 7% at Port of Rotterdam

Container throughput dipped by 7% at the Port of Rotterdam in the first half of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic led shipping lines to blank a significant number of sailings.

Although carriers cancelled up to 20% of all services in May and June, the decline in volumes was nevertheless less pronounced due to the increased call sizes of vessels visiting Rotterdam.

The port handled 7,002,000 teu, a reduction of more than 500,000 teu, with the fall mainly due to the throughput of fewer empty containers. Container tonnage was only down by 3.3% in terms of tonnage.