*********** Port Of Rotterdam ***********

[Nemo]

Financing agreement GATE LNG terminal
03-20-2009
Gate terminal, a joint venture between Nederlandse Gasunie and Koninklijke Vopak has signed a € 136 million senior financing agreement with the European Investment Bank and a banking syndicate of eight international relationship banks. This financing facility will be used for the expansion of the first Dutch Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import and regasification terminal on the Maasvlakte near Rotterdam. The financing facility adds to the initial € 745 million senior financing agreement, of July 2008.

Terminal
In August 2008, E.ON Ruhrgas joined DONG Energy, EconGas and Essent as the fourth customer of Gate terminal by signing a throughput agreement. To accommodate all customers, the terminal’s throughput capacity will be expanded with 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year (bcma) to a total throughput capacity of 12 bcma and a second jetty will be constructed. The terminal will play an important role in the future supply of natural gas to the European market and is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2011.

European companies
The initial annual throughput capacity of 12 bcma can be increased to 16 bcma in the future. Four European energy companies (DONG Energy from Denmark, EconGas from Austria, E.ON Ruhrgas from Germany and Essent from the Netherlands) have signed long term throughput agreements with Gate terminal. As part of the agreement these customers (or their major shareholders) each hold a 5% equity stake in Gate terminal. The remaining 80% of shares are held by Gasunie and Vopak, thereby safeguarding the independence of the terminal.

More: www.gateterminal.com


Lehnkering to come to Distriport Benelux
02-13-2009
Lehnkering Logistics & Services will be establishing itself in Rotterdam-Pernis during the course of this year. The company will be given the use of over 17,000 pallet places in 'Distriport Benelux' in two phases. The space is suitable for the storage of cargo in a large number of IMO classes. (1)

The project by developer ProDelta already consists of 31,000 m2, with another 28,000 m2 that will now be added, divided between two buildings. The ten units of approximately 2,800 m² each will be completed in the second quarter of 2009, and are suitable for the storage and distribution of commodities and dangerous substances. For this, the complex has been equipped with centralised facilities for the installation of an additional fire extinguishing installation.

Use of the quay (also for inland shipping) and rail are possible via the neighbouring Pernis Combi Terminal. Distriport Benelux is situated next to the A4 motorway, across from the southern entrance to the Benelux Tunnel, and the A15 (Maasvlakte-Germany). (Sources: Lehnkering and ProDelta)

(1) Dangerous and noxious substances according to the categorization of the International Maritime Organization.


Work on MDI plant will be resumed after improvement global demand
02-11-2009
Huntsman Corporation has suspended work on design and feasibility studies for its planned investment in a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant at its site in Rotterdam Rozenburg (Botlek area). because existing production capacity is adequate to meet current demand for MDIbased polyurethanes following the downturn in global economic growth.

The design and feasibility studies, which include preliminary engineering for the planned 400,000 metric tons capacity unit, will be halted at a stage to allow quick and efficient re-engagement at a future date. Until such time, all third party work on the project will be suspended.
(Official release, including quotes and profile Huntsman: www.huntsman.com)

© Other

[Nemo]

Sharp fall in throughput for Port of Rotterdam
04-09-2009
Throughput in the port of Rotterdam has fallen sharply. In the first quarter of this year, 94 million tonnes of goods were handled, 10.8% down on the same period of 2008. The declining throughput involves most types of goods: iron ore and scrap (-50%), agribulk (-4%), other dry bulk (-29%), crude oil (-4%), other liquid bulk (-17%), containers (-18%), roll on/roll off (-13%) and other mixed cargo (-24%). Coal (+24%) and mineral oil products (+13%) managed to escape the slump by quite a margin.

Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: "The decline in throughput is considerable, but is in line with the picture I outlined in December of a poor first six months. Despite some rays of hope, the problems – for example in container shipping - continue to dominate for the time being. The recovery will therefore begin a little later than originally anticipated. We foresee a decline in throughput over the year as a whole of between -6 and -10%".

Dry bulk
The very sharp fall in imports of iron ore, to 5.3 million tonnes, is the result of the collapsed demand for steel, combined with large stocks of ore at the terminals. As blast furnaces have also been shut down, positive trends in demand for steel and ore prices are only having a very slow impact on ore imports. This also applies to throughput of scrap.
Throughput of coke coal parallels that of ore. The demand for coal for energy production actually increased sharply due to the relatively harsh winter and the structural increase in demand from Germany. As a result, throughput rose by almost a quarter, to 6.3 million tonnes.
The handling of other dry bulk (minerals, building materials, biomass) suffered from the sharp decline in activity in the chemical, metal and construction industry: -29% to 2.1 million tonnes.
In the first quarter, throughput of agribulk was still down, by -4% to 2.3 million tonnes, due to the good European harvest in the 2008/2009 season. From the third quarter onwards, the new harvest will be decisive.

Liquid bulk
Imports of crude oil fell a little less than people anticipated on the basis of the economic trend. Speculating on future price increases, they continued to fill up the storage tanks and even used tankers for temporary storage. As a result, the quarterly figures fell to a limited degree, by 4% to 24.9 million tonnes.
The structural regional surpluses and shortages, combined with a strong "contango" (high prices in the future in comparison with the short term), had a positive impact on throughput of mineral oil products. Despite the fall in demand, less goods and passenger transport, for end products, throughput continued to grow: +13% to 16.8 million tonnes.
Other liquid bulk (chemical basic products, vegetable oils and fats, fruit juices), fell by 17% to 7.6 million tonnes. Within the sector, chemical basic products are by far the most important and the chemical industry has been hit hard by a fall in demand.

General cargo
Container throughput fell by 18% to 22 million tonnes. In (20-foot units) the decline was 16%, to 2.3 million TEU’s. There was no evidence of positive trends in any particular trade. For the rest of the year too, prospects are poor in terms of volume. In addition to this, container shipping is wrestling with overcapacity and is faced with the challenge of jacking up extremely low freight tariffs.
Roll on/roll off traffic is suffering heavily from the unprecedented decline in the British economy and the increased value of the euro against the pound. The quantity of goods transported fell by 13%, to 4 million tonnes.
The 25% decline in throughput of other general cargo to 1.4 million tonnes was caused by the falling demand for steel, which accounts for about half of the mixed cargo throughput, and metals. The handling of fruit is a little less sensitive to economic trends, but is subject to structural pressure due to continued containerisation. Paper/pulp throughput is declining because fewer advertisements mean thinner newspapers and magazines.

Appendix: Throughput figures Rotterdam first quarter 2008 and 2009 and the percentage difference.
© Port of Rotterdam Authority


Netherlands is Europe's number two exporting country
04-20-2009
In 2008, the Netherlands was the second most important exporting country in the EU, behind Germany. A year earlier, our country was still third. The increase in Dutch export value was also high in comparison with other EU countries. This high position can be attributed partly to the country’s important role in distribution to the European hinterland. Eurostat, source of the data, refers to this as the "Rotterdam effect". These so-called re-exports account for almost half of total Dutch exports.

Exports equal to 12 most recent EU Member States
In 2008, the Netherlands exported almost as much as the twelve new members of the EU together: about €430 billion. This trade was made up of such goods as computers, medicines and natural gas. Germany remained undisputed leader, with €994 billion. In 2008, the Netherlands passed France, at 412 billion.

Relatively high growth
In 2008, Dutch exports were 7% up on 2007. Average growth in the fifteen ‘old’ EU countries was 2%. In contrast, exports from the new EU Member States averaged 11%.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, Dutch exports were 5% lower than in 2007. However, exports in Germany (-6%), France (-7%), Belgium (-8.5%), the United Kingdom (-11%) and most other Member States fell even more sharply.

Re-exports push up exports
The high position of the Netherlands in the league table of exporting countries can be attributed partly to the important role our country plays in distribution to the European hinterland. Dutch traders buy, for example, Chinese computers via the port of Rotterdam and then sell them on to other European countries. Almost half of Dutch exports are made up of these re-exports, whereas many other countries primarily export goods produced domestically.
Source: Statistics Netherlands, 15 April 2009, (www. cbs.nl)


The Netherlands the biggest exporter to Germany
04-09-2009
In 2008 Germany imported goods worth 72 billion euro from the Netherlands. This means that the Netherlands has replaced France, which remained at 66 billion euro last year, as the biggest exporter to Germany, according to figures from the Statistisches Bundesamt, published by the Dutch-German Chamber of Commerce (DNHK).

The value of petroleum and natural gas products imported into Germany did indeed rise from 4.6 billion euro to more than 6.3 billion euro. But the Netherlands also increased exports of products from the food industry to Germany from 6.6. to 6.9 billion euro.

Re-exports
The figures published by the Statistisches Bundesamt do not give any idea of the volume of re-exports (1), mainly through Rotterdam, in the Dutch exports to Germany. The DNHK estimates this share to be 17 billion euro, being the difference between Dutch exports to Germany (including re-export) of 89 billion euro and German imports from the Netherlands (without re-export) of 72 billion euro.

German exports
The fact that the Netherlands is becoming increasingly important at the same time as a market for Germany is also shown in the German export figures. During 2008 the Netherlands rose by one place to fourth, ousting Italy (64 billion). Germany exported goods totalling a value of almost 65.6 billion euro to the Netherlands. Among the winners were German chemical products in particular (11.1 billion compared to 10.5 billion in 2007), iron and steel products and special vehicles.

(1) With re-export, goods are imported into the Netherlands and then exported again in a virtually unprocessed state. Because of the distribution function of the Netherlands, the share of re-export during the last few years has averaged in excess of 40 per cent. See also: Port of Rotterdam pivotal in effort to overtake France and Germany
© Port of Rotterdam Authority


Koole expands tank storage
04-09-2009
Tank storage company Koole in Rotterdam Pernis is to expand its terminal by 80,000 m3 to around 635,000 m3. The large sea jetty is also to be reinforced and deepened to 15 metres, in order to be able to handle vessels of up to 75,000 tonnes.

For connecting transport, a third coaster, with a capacity of 4000 tonnes, has been put into operation. In the stainless steel tanks, vegetable oils and fats, oleochemical products and biodiesel can be transported to European destinations by sea. Of its own fleet of 16 inland tankers, 6 already have EBIS (European Barge Inspection Scheme) classification. This means that the company can carry biodiesel for all major oil companies. (1)

Economic crisis
Despite the economic crisis, the market for biofuels developed well. (See also: Rotterdam shows sharp growth in biofuels). The crisis is also slowing down demand for car fuels, but the obligation to blend fuels is cushioning the negative impact on transshipment and storage. Vegetable oils and fats and oleochemical products are used mainly in foodstuffs and cosmetic products. Demand for these is dropping relatively late in the economic cycle.
(1) Source: Oils and Fats, March 2009.


Queen reveals names of Second Maasvlakte ports
04-03-2009
On 28 April, Her Majesty the Queen will reveal the names of the future ports on the Second Maasvlakte. She will do this during a visit to the port of Rotterdam. The focus here will be on the new port area in the North Sea. During this visit, Her Majesty the Queen will also receive extensive information on the various aspects of the Second Maasvlakte.

The construction of the Second Maasvlakte will add an extra 2,000 ha to the Netherlands. Work started in September. This spring, the dredging fleet will be increased to full strength and, before the summer, the first new land will rise out of the water, 3 km from the current coastline. If all goes according to plan, the first vessels will be docking in the new ports in 2013.

To provide an opportunity to contemplate these important developments, a gathering will be held on 28 April, with around 300 invited guests, in and around the FutureLand information centre on the edge of the existing Maasvlakte. There, Her Majesty the Queen will announce the names of the new ports on the Second Maasvlakte. The Queen will then go on to speak with various experts in the field of design and construction, environmental compensation and sustainability, the economy, etc. FutureLand will open its doors to the public on 1 May.

The Second Maasvlakte is part of the Rotterdam Mainport Development Project (PMR). The aim is to boost both the economy and the quality of life in the Rijnmond region. Within the PMR, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is responsible for the construction of the Second Maasvlakte.
© Port of Rotterdam Authority

[EuroMaster]

Great news for Rotterdam!

Euromax is developing, new power plant and LNG-terminal so close to each other. For me a little boom!

[hkskyline]

Rotterdam slips to fourth in global port league

AMSTERDAM, June 4 (Reuters) - Rotterdam, Europe's biggest port, has slipped to fourth among the world's largest ports, as China's combined Zhoushan and Ningbo ports have risen to second place, based on the Dutch port's 2008 statistics.

China's Shanghai tops the list for a fourth year running, with a cargo volume of 582 million tonnes, while the Chinese ports of Zhoushan and Ningbo, which combined in 2006, came in second with 520.1 million tonnes of annual throughput.

Singapore dropped from second to third place, with 515.3 million tonnes, while Rotterdam, with 421.1 million tonnes, was knocked to fourth position, according to latest figures released on the port's website.

Rotterdam surpassed New York as the biggest port in the world in 1962 and maintained its dominance until 2004, based on the port's statistics.

The Dutch hub has faced growing competition in recent years from booming Asian ports, and embarked on an expansion project last year, hoping to eventually increase its annual cargo volumes to 800 million tonnes by 2040.

A Rotterdam port spokesman explained the shift in the league as mainly due to the statistical decision to count Zhoushan and Ningbo as one port, since they joined forces in 2006.

Dutch and Belgian Green parties have suggested Rotterdam should merge with Antwerp as a means for the ports to bolster their position without having to expand further. Their combined cargo turnover is 610 million tonnes at present.

But the spokesman said on Thursday a merger was not seen as an option due to anti-monopoly laws in the European Union.

Chinese ports now make up half of the world's top 20 ports, based on Rotterdam's statistics.

Antwerp is the only other European port to appear in the list, while three U.S. ports, two Japanese and two South Korean ports also feature.

Rotterdam held on to its position as Europe's biggest port in 2008, followed by Antwerp, Hamburg, Marseilles and Amsterdam.

[kikodj]

ports = good economy

[hkskyline]

Dutch see closer cooperation as key to port growth

AMSTERDAM, July 14 (Reuters) - Rotterdam needs to cooperate more closely with other Dutch harbours such as Amsterdam and Groningen if it wants to to keep its position as Europe's top port, Dutch government ministers said on Tuesday.

Improving transport connections between the ports and increasing the specialisation of the different harbours could lead to an integrated network more attractive to shippers, several ministers wrote in a port strategy document for parliament.

"To safeguard our international standing in the future and to reduce pressure on the environment, Rotterdam and the other Dutch harbours and logistic centres need to work more closely together," the Economy Ministry said in a statement.

It said a likely surge in global trade in coming decades would increase competition between European ports, making it critical the country is ready to meet client demand for more smoothly running ports.

With more than 420 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2008, Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port overall, followed by Antwerp, Hamburg, Marseilles and Amsterdam.

Though volumes have declined in 2009 as a result of the slowdown in global trade during the worldwide economic crisis, Rotterdam has started an expansion project aimed at doubling its annual cargo volumes by 2040.

[hkskyline]

Rotterdam H1 cargo volumes down, to stabilise

AMSTERDAM, July 15 (Reuters) - Cargo volumes handled by Rotterdam, Europe's biggest port, fell 13.4 percent in the first half of 2009 but are expected to stabilise in the second half, the port authority said on Wednesday.

Volumes of goods passing through the Dutch hub slipped to 185 million tonnes in the first half of 2009, compared to 214 million tonnes in the same period last year, as global trade flows eased on weak demand in slowing economies.

"It looks like the floor of the decline has been reached," said the port's chief executive Hans Smits in a statement.

"I expect a stabilisation in the throughput in the second half of the year," he said, estimating volumes would decline by about 12 percent overall in 2009.

He said the port expected to benefit from a recovery in world trade throughout 2010, and was sticking to its plans to invest in expansion.

Declines in volumes affected almost every type of cargo, but particularly iron ore and scrap, with flows declining by 61 percent to 8.3 million tonnes on lower steel production due to weaker industrial demand.

Flows of containers, which carry finished goods, also fell by 15 percent, and coal volumes declined by 14 percent.

Refined oil products were an exception, with volumes increasing by 17 percent to about 35 million tonnes.

Rotterdam port started an extension programme last September which is set to increase its size by about 20 percent. The first ship was expected to dock in the new harbour in 2013.

[hkskyline]

FEATURE-Europe's top port expands despite drop in cargo

ROTTERDAM, July 23 (Reuters) - From queuing barges and traffic jams to falling cargo volumes and quieter terminals, Rotterdam worker Johan Blinde has seen a struggle with overload at Europe's biggest port turn into a fight for business.

In past years, he saw bottlenecks at terminals handling booming imports from Asia often forcing frustrated shippers to wait for days to unload. With cargo volumes down 13 percent so far in 2009, they can easily be in and out within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, dredgers are pumping millions of tonnes of sand into the North Sea to reclaim land for a 3-billion-euro ($4 billion) extension designed to avoid the choked conditions the port has faced in the past.

"The congestion is completely over," said Blinde, Rotterdam operations manager for South-Korean shippers Hanjin Shipping.

"There is less burden at the quay, we have fewer calls from vessels compared to last year," he said. "Now everyone is fighting for business."

The port's authority is pressing ahead with plans to increase its usable area by 20 percent, and sees the trade slump in a slowing global economy as a temporary breather that gives it time to be ready when growth resumes.

"The downside has an upside: we can now prepare ourselves for the next period of growth," Hans Smits, chief executive of the port, said in an interview.

"In the last couple of years, growth was so strong that we had a lot of obstacles handling these enormous flows of goods. Now we can solve the problem for when the recovery is there."

Rotterdam port is an engine for the export-oriented Dutch economy, helping to keep up the flow of beer, dairy products and tulip bulbs to the world while also serving as a key gateway to Europe for all sorts of commodities and finished products.

Its extension is set to add up to 20,000 jobs to more than 250,000 it already provides directly and indirectly, and will bolster the Netherlands' position as the world's 16th largest economy.

SHARE OF TRADE

At stake is also the port's share of trade in Europe, as rivals similarly prepare for a pick-up. Rotterdam handled about 35 percent of trade through the northwestern region in 2008 compared with Antwerp's 16 percent and Hamburg's 12 percent.

Bulldozers are busy distributing 250 million tonnes of sand evenly over the reclaimed islands of the Maasvlakte 2 extension, which will require 7 million tonnes of stone and 20,000 concrete blocks for its construction.

Meanwhile, Smits expects it will take between three and four years for cargo volumes to return to the 420-million-tonne level reached last year, which should coincide with the expected docking of the first ship in the new harbour in 2013.

With its peers, Rotterdam had faced criticism in the past for not investing enough and analysts said priorities were to improve facilities for handling containers, which mainly carry manufactured goods, and to improve links out of the port.

"This downturn presents an opportunity for Rotterdam and other ports in northern Europe to restructure themselves and become more efficient in the handling of container trade," said shipping analyst Marc Pauchet from maritime consultants MSI.

Containers carry products ranging from electronics to toys and food is also increasingly transported this way. Rotterdam is a popular transfer spot for ships because of its deep-water docks and short access route from the sea to terminals.

Ports in Asia such as Shanghai, which in 2005 assumed the title of world's biggest port Rotterdam had held since 1962, are gearing up quickly to deal with many large container vessels. European ports have some catching up to do, analysts said.

"As vessels grow larger and bigger and have the capacity, in order to attend to the vessels the ports need to invest in infrastructure like cranes and dredging," Pauchet said.

Rotterdam's location, facilities and investment, aimed at eventually doubling its capacity to handle containers, should help the Dutch port to shine in Europe, analysts said.

RIGHT PACE

"Its proximity to the main shipping routes and its access to the European market, not just by road and rail but by inland waterway connections, are pretty much unrivalled in northern Europe," said Neil Davidson, director of ports at Drewry Shipping consultants.

Other European ports, such as Le Havre in northwestern France, Antwerp in Belgium and Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany, could also gain market share in coming years.

"Ports like Hamburg and Bremerhaven have advantages in their locations, they have a strong base inland towards Germany, and a large chunk of the shipments that arrive into Rotterdam are destined for Germany," Pauchet said.

The challenge for Rotterdam as it carries out its expansion project would be to find the right pace to match capacity to demand requirements, Davidson said.

Container volumes have fallen 15 percent so far this year, but not as much as ores and scrap, with traffic down 61 percent as a result of low industrial demand for steel. Smits expected this sector could be the first to show signs of improvement.

"I hope to see the automotive industry pick up again next year so that steel production picks up and the throughput of a number of goods will recover," he said.

Although volumes have declined in most other cargo, oil products including diesel and kerosene have shown strong growth this year, which along with crude oil occupy most of the port's storage capacity.

Home to some of Europe's biggest oil refineries, Rotterdam's role as an energy hub is expanding as the Dutch seek to diversify their supplies. Flows of biofuels are rising, while the port is also a site for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and carbon capture projects.

"We have become a biofuel hub in Europe, that will grow step by step. By 2011 the first LNG terminal will be operational, and we expect to also become a gas hub," Smits said.

[hkskyline]

FACTBOX-Rotterdam, Europe's biggest port

July 23 (Reuters) - After years of increasing congestion and delivery delays at Rotterdam, Europe's biggest port, a slowdown in global trade is giving the Dutch hub time to expand capacity and prepare for a return to growth.

Here are some facts about Rotterdam and the main goods passing through the port:

* Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port by total cargo volumes as well as for containers, which carry finished goods. It has grown about tenfold since it became Europe's top port in 1938, handling more than 420 million tonnes of cargo in 2008.

* In the first half of 2009, crude oil and containers each made up about a quarter of total cargo volumes, while mineral oil products, ores and scrap and coal accounted for most of the remaining volume.

* The Dutch hub launched an extension project in September designed eventually to double its capacity to handle containers. Dredging vessels have sprayed sand in the North Sea to reclaim land in a process called "rainbowing". Construction of the quay for the first terminal should begin in 2010 and the first ship is expected to dock in the new harbour about 2013.

* Rotterdam is the site of some of Europe's biggest oil refineries, including Shell's Pernis, Europe's biggest overall with a capacity of about 412,000 barrels of oil per day, BP Rotterdam, Europe's second biggest at 400,000 bpd, and Kuwait Petroleum's 80,000 bpd plant.

* The port is a storage and transport hub for vegetable oils and biofuels. Biofuel flows through Rotterdam grew by 80 percent in 2008 and are expected to be a strong growth area in coming years. In edible oils, Rotterdam says its market share is higher than 65 percent, and it handled about 7.7 million tonnes of oils ranging from palm to sunflower oil in 2008.

* Rotterdam will be the site of several new terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. Dutch oil storage firm Vopak and gas pipeline operator Gasunie are building the Gate LNG terminal, due to become operational in 2011. Terminal operator 4Gas also plans to build the LionGas terminal in Rotterdam, which is expected to come on stream in 2012.

(Sources: Rotterdam port, Vopak, 4Gas, Shell)

[EuroMaster]

Building Tweede(/second) Maasvlakte:

Originally Posted by Eric Offereins

Maasvlakte update:

LNG-terminal:

Originally Posted by Eric Offereins

New Powerplant of EON. Rising up till 126 for the building. The Chimney is 175m tall.




Expanding Loders Croklaanfactory:




New plant for BioDiesel Neste Oil under construction:

[Nemo]

@EUROMASTER

Mooie post!


Port Authority is investing € 370 million this year
09-04-2009
This year, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is investing € 370 million in the port. About half of this is going into infrastructure in the existing port area, whilst the other half is earmarked for Maasvlakte 2. Some hefty investments also need to be made for the medium and long term. Between now and 2020, the Port Authority expects to invest some € 4 billion. The Port Authority’s financial position is solid enough to cushion the downward trend in results in the first six months (- € 8 million) and to allow the continuation of this investment programme. The Port Authority can easily meet the criteria set by its external financiers.
The results for the Port of Rotterdam Authority were down on 2008 in the first six months of the year, by € 8 million to € 77 million. This represents a 9% fall. This can be explained mainly by the lower revenues from seaport dues (- € 9 million), due to a decline in cargo handling as a result of the economic crisis. At the same time, revenues from contracts increased, thanks largely to land allocations.
The Port Authority expects the second half of the year to present a similar financial picture to the first six months.


Vopak Vlaardingen expands
08-19-2009
Vopak Vlaardingen recently expanded its tank capacity by more than 15%, to 500.000 m3, in around 420 tanks. It thereby confirms its position as one of the world’s largest specialised terminals for vegetable oils and fats, biodiesel and oleo chemical products.
55,000 m3 of tank space is of stainless steel. The recent expansion consisted of 75,000 m3 in so-called mild steel. With the installation of heavier pumps and accompanying pipe capacity, the handling time for ocean-going and inland vessels has been speeded up. In the coming years, the terminal capacity is to be further increased to 650,000 m3.


Glimmer of light for more throughput
08-18-2009
ArcelorMittal is preparing to reopen four blast furnaces which were closed earlier this year. The company notes that the steel stocks have become almost depleted and it is seeing a gradual increase in demand for steel. In Europe as a whole, production at 14 of the 25 blast furnaces was halted. (1)

Rotterdam
There is therefore a glimmer of light at the end of the very dark tunnel for the Rotterdam iron ore stevedoring companies: the furnaces in Bremen and Liege receive some of their ore via Rotterdam. ArcelorMittal is primarily a client of EMO on the Maasvlakte. That also applies to Voest Alpine, which is to reopen its third blast furnace in September.
EECV exclusively serves its parent company ThyssenKrupp, which will probably reopen one blast furnace, partly to supply a new rolling mill in the United States with slabs. Following iron ore and scrap, ‘other dry bulk’ will also receive some positive boosts. This sector transships all kinds of minerals and ‘smaller ores’ for customers in the steel industry, among others.


More ethanol facilities for Vopak Botlek
08-13-2009
Vopak Botlek has commissioned eight new tanks with a total capacity of 149,000 m3. The first shipment consisted of ethanol for use in fuels. In addition, the handling apparatus for ethanol trains is to be modified.
It was already possible to load unit trains for methanol and unload trains for ethanol. From the fourth quarter onwards, it will also be possible to load ethanol onto trains, at the rate of two a day. This is in response to growth in the ethanol market in general and increasing demand from the hinterland, particularly to destinations without a connection by water. (1)

Increase in scale
Ethanol is being produced - overseas - in increasingly large quantities. Parallel to this, the scale of cargo shipments traded and transported by tanker is growing. The large tanks built by Vopak are the next link in the chain. Since some time, larger inland tank vessels come into service. Now, demand is rising on ’dry’ inland locations in especially Germany as well. Therefore the modification of the rail facilities is a logical continuation in process of increase in scale.
Ethanol is blended into petrol. Brazil is the main overseas producer and Rotterdam is the main transit port for Northwest Europe. Transit transport is mainly by smaller sea-going vessels (Sweden, United Kingdom, Northern Germany) and freight barge (Germany’s rivers and canals). The train can pass on the advantages of scale further into the continental hinterland.

(1) Source: Vopaknews 3, 2009


Netherlands among top five global exporters
08-12-2009
The Netherlands has overtaken France in the league table of the world’s largest goods exporters. It is now in the top five, alongside Germany, China, the United States and Japan. This was revealed by figures from the world trade organisation (WTO). Exports account for 35% of Dutch GDP. The increase in Dutch exports (+15%) is equal to 4% of the total value of global exports. On the imports side, the Netherlands is seventh, with a value of $ 574 billion. The United States are in the lead, with $2166 billion and number two, Germany, achieved just over half of this.

Key role for Rotterdam
The Netherlands benefited significantly from the price increases in energy products from the gas fields of Slochteren and the Rotterdam petrochemical complex. Rotterdam’s transit function in Europe also played an important role for many other products. (See also Netherlands is Europe's number two exporting country).
For instance, 47% of Dutch outgoing trade consists of re-exports, largely via the port on the Maas. In the past ten years, exports of Dutch products have risen by 24%, re-exports by 195%. This means that the economic role of the mainports Rotterdam and Schiphol has increased.


Expansion of Broekman DistriPort
07-24-2009
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has commenced work on expanding the infrastructure of Broekman DistriPort at the Brittanniëhaven in the Botlek area. This will double the terminal’s capacity, in phases, to around 3 million tonnes of steel, iron, metals and project cargo a year. This will involve an investment of approximately €13 million by the Port Authority.

Construction
At the moment, contractor Kraaijenveld is busy extending the sea quay by 120 metres on the eastern side of the terminal. As a result, there will be a – second – berth available from November 2009, with a length of 243 metres and a depth of 12.65 metres. The site behind has already been developed. Starting at the end of this year, the westerly quay will also be extended. This work will be completed in March 2010.

Broekman DistriPort
Broekman DistriPort currently has a surface area in the region of 20 hectares, including 35,000 m2 of covered storage. Over 13,000 m2 of this consists of the all-weather terminal for transshipment into/from vessels of up to 9,000 dwt under cover and temperature-controlled storage for high-grade steel products. The quay has a length of 540 metres, 75 metres of which is covered. Here, there is also room for a freight barge, for ship to ship transfer with sea-going vessels. The terminal has a dual-track rail link stretching 900 metres, 150 metres of which is covered.
Important clients are the Finnish steel producer Rautaruukki and the Italian metal trader Pacorini. Also, steel products are stored for Hoogovens IJmuiden, ThyssenKrupp and Lensveld.


Top ranking the Netherlands in rail liberalisation
07-17-2009
The Netherlands rank four in the liberalisation of railway transport in Europe. On a scale of 1000, it scores 809 points just after the top-3: United Kingdom (827), Germany (826) and Sweden (825). These figures, reflecting the situation in 2007 were presented late June by ‘Railcargo Information Netherlands’
The vast majority of the 27coutries investigated, were in the EU-category ‘on schedule’ which starts at 600 points. Austria and Switzerland scored high in this division and Spain and Belgium low. Luxembourg, France, Greece and Ireland are in the category ‘delayed’.
In the Netherlands, the share of the one time monopolist NS Cargo (later Railion and now DB Schenker Nederland has declined between 1997 and 2006 to 75%. The other 25% is divided between twelve other operators. The transported volume however, rose and the tariffs were lowered with some 25%.

Source: Nieuwsblad Transport, June 26 2009



Picture by TOPAAS

For more pictures of the Euromax terminal and Maasvlakte by Topaas http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D18%26um%3D1

[hoogbouw010]

All photos taken 5 Sept 2009.

1. 4th crude oil port with oil tankers Siri Knutsen and Kastelorizo.


2. BP oil refinery and the EECV iron ore and coal facility with the bulk carrier Berge Pacific.


3. Maasvlakte Oil Terminal and the liquefied natural gas storage facility under construction.


4. The Maasvlakte Oil Terminal consists of 36 storage tanks.


5. The new ECT Euromax container terminal with the container ship Cosco China.


6. New coal power plant under construction and the existing E.ON power plant.


7. APM container terminal and the ECT Delta container terminal.


8. Container ship Maersk Stepnica.


9. Container ship Hyundai Brave.


10. 6th crude oil port.

[Nemo]

Steinweg steel terminal to go into operation soon
10-06-2009
Next month, Steinweg’s deepsea steel terminal on the Maasvlakte will go into operation. By then, the terminal will cover 12 hectares, have a quay length of 500 metres and a depth of 16.65 metres. ‘Mini Capesize’ vessels up to 130,000 dwt will be able to moor here around the clock without any time restrictions. The terminal’s capacity is roughly 5 million tonnes a year.

The first major client is ThyssenKrupp, which is having slabs (large sheets of raw steel) transported from Brazil to rolling mills in Germany via the terminal. Every slab has a coded label, which is read and controlled via RFID technology. The label contains detailed information on the product (production date, composition, weight, customs-related data etc.) and the logistics process (date of transit, connecting mode of transport, further processing, etc.) Four gantry cranes with magnets will lift the slabs - weighing up to 36 tonnes - from the ship onto the terminal. Large forklift trucks with magnets will transport the steel sheets further to the (temporary) storage depot and freight barges and trains heading for Germany. The terminal has sufficient capacity to be able to process more import and/or export volume from a number of customers.
Source: Port Special, October 2009.

Port Authority is investing € 370 million this year
09-04-2009
This year, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is investing € 370 million in the port. About half of this is going into infrastructure in the existing port area, whilst the other half is earmarked for Maasvlakte 2. Some hefty investments also need to be made for the medium and long term. Between now and 2020, the Port Authority expects to invest some € 4 billion. The Port Authority’s financial position is solid enough to cushion the downward trend in results in the first six months (- € 8 million) and to allow the continuation of this investment programme. The Port Authority can easily meet the criteria set by its external financiers.

The results for the Port of Rotterdam Authority were down on 2008 in the first six months of the year, by € 8 million to € 77 million. This represents a 9% fall. This can be explained mainly by the lower revenues from seaport dues (- € 9 million), due to a decline in cargo handling as a result of the economic crisis. At the same time, revenues from contracts increased, thanks largely to land allocations.

The Port Authority expects the second half of the year to present a similar financial picture to the first six months.

[Shezan]

impressive pics

[nazrey]

POIC Sabah urged to pursue tie-up with Rotterdam port 'aggressively'
By Joniston Bangkuai Published: 2009/11/16

THE Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) expects the entry of the Netherlands' Port of Rotterdam (PoR) into Lahad Datu to mitigate some of the perennial problems behind the high cost of exports in Sabah.

FSM president Datuk Seri Wong Khen Thau said PoR's post management expertise and global reputation will be able to attract major shippers to make Sabah their port of call.

Wong was among a 28-member Sabah delegation led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who attended the recent signing of a framework agreement between the state-owned Palm Oil Industrial Clusters Sabah Sdn Bhd (POIC) and PoR on the development of the Lahad Datu POIC port.

POIC has developed 465.75ha for the purpose of a palm oil industrial cluster in Lahad Datu, where the key thrust has been the development of the POIC port.

A strong advocate for the abolition of the cabotage policy, Wong said the high shipping cost is one of the stumbling blocks in Sabah's export trade and attributed the high cost to the fact that there has not been sufficient outgoing cargo to fill up vessels that call at Sabah ports.

"Ships come in full and leave empty. If we can export full, the shipping cost of exports should reduce considerably," Wong said, adding that he learnt from PoR officials that one of their targets is to fill outgoing cargo vessels with biomass material.

Wong noted that PoR has an impressive hinterland distribution network which included movement of goods by rail, barges and road.

"This is of significance to Sabah's manufactured exports, especially those destined for Europe because the more developed and efficient the hinterland distribution network, the lower is the distribution cost," he said.

Urging the Sabah state government, particularly POIC Sabah, to aggressively pursue the partnership with PoR, Wong said the potential for tripartite shipping agreements between PoR, POIC Sabah and the PoR-managed Sohar Port in Oman is potentially important to expanding Sabah's export trade.

Sohar Port aims to be the shipping gateway to the Middle East, offering a potential for Sabah to be the hub for Asia by exporting its palm oil and other products to Middle East as well as to import products from there to be re-exported to Asia.

[Nemo]

Throughput shows signs of recovery

12-30-2009

In 2009, goods throughput in the port of Rotterdam fell to 385 million tonnes. This is 8.5% down on 2008.
Imports shrank by 13% to 272 million tonnes; exports increased by 5% to 113 million tonnes. Bulk was 29% down on the previous year; general cargo fell by 9%. There was less incoming and outgoing trade in agribulk (-22%), ores and scrap (-47%), coal (-12%), other dry bulk (-13%), crude oil (-6%), other liquid bulk (-16%), roll on/roll off (-11%), other general cargo (-16%) and containers (-6%). Only the handling of mineral oil products showed a positive trend (+23%), actually achieving the biggest absolute increase (13 million tonnes) ever.

Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “Considering the circumstances, we cannot be dissatisfied. After hitting rock bottom in the second quarter, throughput has been improving slightly every month and virtually all the investments are going ahead. Moreover, Rotterdam is doing better than its main rivals. But I am not unconcerned. Many of our clients are having a difficult time and that will not be much different in 2010. The best medicine for this is growth, partly through an increase in our market shares. We therefore intend to continue with our active commercial policy. As a result of this, among other things, I hope that we will be able to break through the 400 million tonne barrier again next year. That means growth in throughput considerably over 3%”.

Dry bulk
The total quantity of dry bulk handled was down by 29% to 67 million tonnes.
The quantity of coal handled fell to 25 million tonnes. In the first few months of the year, coal imports remained reasonably stable due to the cold winter, ongoing contracts and the effects of trade. After the winter, energy consumption fell in both the Netherlands and Germany and coal’s share declined more strongly than that of the other energy sources. Throughput of cokes coal, about 40% of coal imports into Rotterdam, reflected the plummeting steel production. With the recovering economy and a mine closure in Germany, modest growth in coal throughput is expected in 2010.
Ore and scrap throughput almost halved (-47%,) to 23 million tonnes. Falling demand for steel led to the temporary closure of many blast furnaces in Northwest Europe and a dramatic decline in the handling of ore. Most of the blast furnaces have started operating again, but under capacity. In 2010, the utilisation rate can be increased to 80%. As a result, ore imports could increase to a possible 30 million tonnes.
Other dry bulk was 13% down, to just over 10 million tonnes. The main consumers in this sector, the chemical and metal industry, are suffering from the economic crisis. The decline is still being compensated for to some extent by the gradual export of a few million tonnes of asphalt from a storage facility in the port area. Without this incidental flow, but with slightly increasing demand for minerals, ores and concentrates, throughput figures for other dry bulk could end up at 9 million tonnes next year.
The handling of agribulk (grains, oil seeds, derivatives) fell sharply: - 22% to just over 8 million tonnes. Europe had a good 2008-2009 harvest. As a result, fewer imports from overseas were necessary. In Rotterdam, the accent is on imports. In addition to this, imports were influenced negatively by a ban on genetically modified maize and reduced milk production. Due to the low milk prices, farmers used more grass and hay and less - imported - oil seeds.

Liquid bulk
The volume of liquid bulk handled rose by 1% to 196 million tonnes. Imports of crude oil fell by close on 6% to 95 million tonnes. Demand for oil products was down and refining margins fell, as a result of which it became unavoidable to limit production. In comparison with other regions, however, Rotterdam did noticeably better thanks to the strength of the petrochemical cluster. This and the anticipated increase in the refining margins counterbalance the high commodity stocks and the slow increase in demand in the OECD countries. In 2010, therefore, slightly higher throughput figures for crude oil (96 million tonnes) are expected.
Imports of oil products increased by 17% to 42 million tonnes, exports by 32% to 30 million tonnes. In total, a record quantity of 72 million tonnes (+23%) was handled. Comparable growth percentages have already been seen four times since 2000, but the absolute growth of 13 million tonnes is the largest ever. This is attributable for about two-thirds to gas oil/diesel throughput. Forward prices for this commodity were higher throughout the year than the spot prices (‘contango’), so that storage paid off. Up to the end of the summer, there was also good ‘arbitrage’ (price differential between two regions minus freight costs), which attracted cargo from Asia, Russia and America to Europe. Thirdly, extra jetty and tank capacity was created, as a result of which the port was able to handle more cargo. A little more fuel oil – in absolute terms the most important product – was handled: around 36 million tonnes. Naphtha throughput fell slightly and that of kerosene was up by about 10%.
There was a 16% decline in other liquid bulk throughput, to 30 million tonnes. The main cause of this is the 20-30% fall in production in the chemical industry. The handling of vegetable oils was up again, thanks to imports of crude palm oil for the refineries. However, there was a substantial decline in the handling of soybean oil, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil. Biofuels (biodiesel, ethanol and ETBE) were also down. The moderate sugar harvest put pressure on Brazilian exports of ethanol. This was compensated for partly by imports of ethanol from Spain and France via Rotterdam. Imports of biodiesel fell due to the European measures taken against the American B99 mix. This made way for the import of more biodiesel from Argentina, however.

General cargo
The general cargo sector had a poor year as a consequence of declining world trade, although the total fall of 8% to 122 million tonnes is a reasonable result in comparison with rival ports. This definitely also applies to the handling of containers, which was 6% down on last year, but managed to remain just above 100 million tonnes. As fewer empty containers were handled, the decline in units was -10% to 9.8 million TEU. Rotterdam is doing well in the largest ‘trade’ in quantitative terms, that between Europe and Asia. Shipping lines combined services and deployed the biggest possible vessels to reduce costs. What Rotterdam has to offer (location, depth, hinterland transport, port tariffs) is tailored well to this and means that the port can benefit from the trend. Container traffic within Europe, mainly to the major destinations such as England, Ireland and Spain, was hit quite hard, however. The services to North and South America are sharing in the malaise. The Baltic trade, mostly involving feeder traffic linked to the Asia services, is really flourishing, however.
The roll-on / roll-off sector is geared virtually solely towards the British market. The crisis, which hit there early and hard, has not led to an earlier onset of recovery. This is further hampered by the value of the pound in relation to the euro. England and the Rotterdam services are focused very much on imports. In addition to the imbalance, the North Sea is characterised by the fierce competition between ferry services and with the container services and the Channel Tunnel. In the slightly longer term, the investments related to the Olympic Games offer positive prospects, which will buttress the investments in the expansion of capacity for Stena and Cobelfret, among other things.
Other general cargo, -16% to 6 million tonnes, was hit quite badly by the crisis. The handling of steel and non-ferrous metals accounts for around 70% of volume in the sector. Both depend heavily on those sectors hit hard by the crisis, such as the construction and automotive industry. The decline in non-ferrous metals remained limited, but steel throughput was down by a third. Storage is on the increase, however. The handling of paper products and fruit fell slightly and project cargo remained stable. The number of cars driven off the ships plummeted by about 70%.

Annex: Goods throughput in the port of Rotterdam January - December 2008 and 2009 (provisional).


http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/ne...0091230_88.jsp