With almost 1.2 million TEU, the UK has retained its position at the top of the league table for container throughput in Rotterdam for 2004. However, the other ‘container millionaire’ – China – isn’t far behind, with just over 1 million TEU.

On incoming flow only, China outstripped the UK with 633,000 as opposed to 585,000 units. The difference in total figures is attributable to the better balance in traffic to the other side of the North Sea.

China’s growth (+46%) was exceeded by a more than doubling of traffic to France (+139%) and Russia (+106%). For France, Germany and Belgium, considerable fluctuations, both up and down, are not uncommon. This is related to changes in sailing schedules, so that 'feeder flows’ between the larger North Sea ports can change course quickly. In 2004, for example, many ships skipped Le Havre because of congestion and unloaded extra containers in Rotterdam, three times as many as in 2003. These were then taken out again by small ships; double the figures for 2003.

The sharp upward trend in container traffic with Russia (+106% to 151,204 TEU) can be partially attributed by a lack of capacity elsewhere. Structural shifts and new services play a much bigger role, however. As the large ships from Asia tend to dock first in Rotterdam, this can give a one or two day lead with further transportation. The ascension of St. Petersburg does mean that the Finnish ports had to relinquish 7%. The other Baltic ports of Estonia and Lithuania, on the other hand, recorded gains of 150%, to 36,000 TEU.

The robust rise of Brazil (+34% to 235,951 TEU) is more structural. The country exports a lot of products that are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, particularly foodstuffs such a beef, chicken and fruit. As is the case with Asia, Rotterdam is often the first port of call from South America. By unloading in Rotterdam, there is more ‘shelf time’ in the shops and lower capital costs for the usually expensive cargo.

Another country on the up and up is Malaysia (+31% to 275,778 TEU). The ports of Tanjung Pelepas (near Singapore) and Port Kelang (near Kuala Lumpur) not only attract a lot of transit cargo, but Malaysia’s own export trade is developing healthily.

Although the ‘new’ Chinese, Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian ports are taking a lot of cargo away from Hong Kong and Singapore, these two ports are holding their own, +17% to 420 820 TEU and +10% to 547,063 TEU respectively.

Last year, Ireland was one of the destinations showing the strongest growth, with figures almost doubling since 1997. In 2004, growth was below average for the first time, up only 4.6% to 548,127 TEU. Iceland showed slightly lower growth than in previous years, up 5.8% to 70,489 TEU. Portugal and Norway, traditionally important countries for Rotterdam, did better than average in 2004, with around 20% growth to 141,160 TEU and 101,098 TEU respectively.

The strong growth of a number of European countries and the 15% increase for Europe as a whole can be attributed mainly to so-called ‘feedering’. A container from Japan destined for Sweden is transferred in Rotterdam onto a smaller ship. Intra-European transport by sea, from Bilbao to Gothenburg via Rotterdam for example, showed more modest growth of around 4%.

Rotterdam’s total throughput in 2004 was 8.3 million TEU, led by Asia (+21.1% to 3.6m TEU), followed by Europe (+15.4% to 2.9m TEU), America (+6% to 1.4m TEU), Africa (+5% to 200,685 TEU) and Oceania (+23.8% to 110,247 TEU).

The Top 10 European countries sending containers via Rotterdam last year were:

UK up 13.3% to 1.17m TEU
Ireland up 4.6% to 548,127 TEU
Spain up 11.1% to 182 215 TEU
Russia up 106.5% to 151,204 TEU
Portugal up 21.3% to 141,160 TEU
Norway up 19.9% to 101,098 TEU
France up139.4% to 82,382 TEU
Finland down 7.3% to 74,859 TEU
Germany up 6.9% to 70,929 TEU
Iceland up 5.8% to 70,489 TEU

The Top 10 countries in the world sending containers via Rotterdam last year were:

UK up 13.3% to 1.17m TEU
China up 46.2% to 1.02m TEU
United States up 1.7% to 798,347 TEU
Ireland up 4.6% to 548,127 TEU
Singapore up 10.4% to 547,063 TEU
Hong Kong up 17.5% to 420,820 TEU
Japan up 7.6% to 413,337 TEU
Taiwan up 11.5% to 266,662 TEU
Malaysia up 31.3% to 275,778 TEU
Brazil up 34.4% to 235 951
(source: eyefortransport)