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Dry bulk and chemicals weigh on volumes
Throughput at the port of Rotterdam declined by 1.7% in 2025 to 428.4 million tonnes, reflecting sustained pressure on European industry and shifting global trade patterns.
The sharpest drop was recorded in dry bulk, down 6.5%. Iron ore and scrap volumes fell 11.5% as European steel producers continued to face high energy and CO2 costs alongside cheaper imports. Coal throughput declined 8.7% to 17.3 million tonnes. Demand for coking coal weakened in line with steel production, while energy coal use fluctuated. A wind poor first half supported coal fired generation in the Netherlands and Germany, but higher renewable output and lower gas prices reduced demand later in the year.
Liquid bulk slipped 1.5%. Crude oil volumes rose 3.4% to 101.2 million tonnes as refining margins in North West Europe improved. However, mineral oil products dropped 12.6%, reflecting weak arbitrage opportunities and a subdued first half.
LNG throughput increased 15.1% to 13.0 million tonnes as Europe rebuilt gas reserves. Other liquid bulk declined 3.1%, largely due to lower chemical volumes, including methanol. Ethanol, SAF and biodiesel showed some recovery in the second half.
Containers grow in TEU but not in weight
Container throughput rose 3.1% in TEU terms to 14.2 million TEU, yet fell 0.2% by tonnage. The difference tells its own story. More boxes moved, but they were lighter or empty.
Imports from Asia grew 9.3%, while volumes to and from North America increased 13.6% in the second half. At the same time, weaker European exports and reduced transhipment led to more empty container flows. Congestion at quays also diverted some cargo to competing ports, contributing to a 15.9% drop in transhipment TEU.
RoRo volumes edged up 0.9% to 25.6 million tonnes. Other breakbulk increased 4.6% to 6.1 million tonnes, supported by steel products, offshore wind foundations and pipes linked to the Porthos CCS project.
CEO flags pressure on investment climate
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, described 2025 as a challenging year marked by geopolitical tensions and competitive pressure on European industry. He stressed that resilience and cooperation at national and European level remain essential for supply chains and industrial clusters.
Concerns over the investment climate persist. Several chemical producers announced plant closures, while renewable fuel projects stalled. Although measures such as suspending the Dutch CO2 levy and reinstating ETS compensation were welcomed, bottlenecks remain. Nitrogen constraints, grid congestion and higher energy costs continue to affect long term decisions.
Sustainability projects advance despite headwinds
Despite market pressures, large scale energy transition projects moved forward. Air Liquide began construction of a 200 MW green hydrogen plant on the Maasvlakte, due online by 2027. Shell’s Holland Hydrogen I electrolyser is scheduled for commissioning in 2026. The Porthos carbon capture project entered its final construction phase, with offshore pipeline installation completed.
The Port Authority reported revenues of 940.4 million euros, up 6.6%. EBITDA rose 3.6% to 583.6 million euros. Net profit fell to 266.0 million euros due to higher depreciation and a one off impairment. Investments totalled 291.4 million euros, 9% lower than the previous year.
For a port that serves as Europe’s main logistics gateway, even a modest contraction reflects wider industrial stress. The second half showed signs of recovery across segments. Whether that momentum continues will depend less on quay capacity and more on the competitiveness of European industry itself.
