Transhipment at North Sea Canal ports hits record of 100 million tonnes
The positive economy led to a 2.5 percent increase in the transhipment of goods at the Port of Amsterdam to 81.3 million tonnes in 2017. Together with the other seaports in the North Sea Canal Area, transhipment rose to a record level of 100.8 million tonnes, Port of Amsterdam said in its press release.
In IJmuiden, transhipment was up 7 percent to 18.5 million tonnes. Beverwijk saw transhipment increase to 800,000 tonnes (up 6 percent). Zaanstad booked an increase of 35 percent to 300,000 tonnes.
The increase at the Port of Amsterdam was mainly due to higher transhipment of oil products and agribulk. Oil products were up 4 percent to 44.4 million tonnes and agribulk rose 5 percent to 8.3 million tonnes. Other wet bulk cargo, such as chemical base products, declined by 27 percent to 2.2 million tonnes. There was another decline in the transhipment of coal, which was down 3 percent at 15.8 million tonnes. Other dry bulk, including construction materials, was up 12 percent to 8.1 million tonnes.
Transhipment of containers was stable in 2017 at 600,000 tonnes (TEU 56,191), the same level as in 2016. Ro/Ro and other mixed cargo was up 11 percent to 1.9 million tonnes in 2017. Imports at the Port of Amsterdam rose by 4 percent last year to 50.9 million tonnes. Exports were unchanged on 2016 at 30.4 million.
18 hectares of land were allocated in 2017, compared to 11 hectares in 2016. The recipients included Bio Energy Netherlands, a biomass power station which generates electricity and raw materials for the chemical industry from waste timber, and Chaincraft, a biotech company that converts biomass into fatty acids. In addition, Borghese Real Estate and DHL realised expansions at the Atlaspark and the creative hub Image Wharf was established at the Minervahaven. Two new facilities of Gam BAKKER and Containerterminal CTV Vrede Steinweg have also been realised at the HoogTij industrial estate, in which Port of Amsterdam is a participant. Port of Amsterdam has furthermore acquired 10 hectares of land on the northern side of the North Sea Canal.
Amsterdam welcomed 134 sea cruise ships in 2017, compared to 125 in 2016. The number of sea cruise passengers increased from 281,907 in 2016 to 332,998 in 2017. At IJmuiden, cruise calls amounted to 23, compared to 32 in 2016.
The number of river cruise ships was unchanged on 2016 at 1,876. The number of river cruise passengers was down 1 percent from 500,000 in 2016 to 495,550 in 2017.
