Bulk Distributor May/Jun 2020 May/June 2020 | Page 15

May/June 2020 Ports & Storage BULKDISTRIBUTOR 15 COVID-19 hits Rotterdam stats Port of Rotterdam’s throughput was badly hit in the first quarter, thanks to COVID-19 pandemic. In the first three months, throughput amounted to 112.4 million tonnes, 9.3 percent lower than in the first quarter of 2019. Falling throughput was seen mainly in the coal, crude oil and oil products segments. There was, however, a rise in iron ore, biomass, LNG and other liquid bulk. Oil products fell by 32.8 percent. There was a sharp fall in the trading of fuel oil between Russia and Singapore, for which Rotterdam has been the throughput location in recent years. Instead, much of the fuel oil went directly from Russia to the United States for refining. The throughput of diesel fuels also declined. The incoming flow of crude oil fell by 8 percent in the past quarter. Stocks built up last year were used for production in the past quarter. However, LNG was up by 18 percent to more than 2 million tonnes with, in particular, more LNG going to the European gas network. More gas was used for electricity production because of the low gas price. Throughput of other wet bulk rose by 710,000 tonnes (9.3 percent). This consisted primarily of an increase in chemical products and biodiesels. Rotterdam is increasingly becoming a central logistical location in Europe for these products, with both imports and exports to other European countries. Container throughput in tonnes was almost the same (-0.3 percent in tonnes, -4.7 percent in TEU) as in the same period last year - which was a record quarter for containers at the time (+5.9 percent in tonnes, +7.3 percent in TEU). There was a rise in Rotterdam container throughput suffered from a weaker European economy and trade conflicts deep-sea and feeder containers, while short sea fell off by 4.5 percent. The underlying causes were the weaker economy in Europe during the past six months and stagnating world trade due to trade conflicts. The impact of the corona crisis was apparent only to a limited extent in late March as a fall in goods flows from China after the partial lockdown there in February. Seagoing vessels take four to five weeks to complete the journey, which means that the effect in Rotterdam was not felt until later. The volume of containers from Asia was 2.8 percent lower than in the first quarter of 2019. The sharp downturn in the global economy caused by the corona pandemic will still have a major impact on the port of Rotterdam, the port authority said. The impact of a decline in demand due would become clear in the second quarter. A 10-20 percent drop in throughput volume on an annual basis would seem to be very likely. This will depend on how long the measures remain in place and on how quickly production and world trade recover. In containers, capacity between Asia and Europe is being cut by approximately 25 percent in response to the reduction in demand for transport. This will also be clearly seen in the port of Rotterdam in the coming quarter. Advertisers Index Events Advanced Polymer Coatings 11 CIMC 5 Condaco 9,10 CTW Cleaning 9 Fort Vale Engineering 8 Groninger Cleaning Systems 10 Hoyer 4 Hüni 1 ITCO 16 Lohia 13 NTTank Containers 7 Savvy 12 Stolt Tank Containers 2 For information on advertising contact us on: [phone] Published 6 times a year. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. ISSN 1462-0731 Publisher: Margaret Major, [email protected], Tel: [phone] Managing Editor: Neil Madden, [email protected], Tel: [phone] Advertising Director: Anne Williams, [email protected], Tel: [phone] Development Consultant: Petra Hoyer-Millar, [email protected] Circulation: Berni Chetham, [email protected], Tel: [phone] © Ashley & Dumville Publishing Bulk Distributor is published by Ashley & Dumville Publishing LogiChem 8-10 September 2020 Rotterdam, Netherlands www.logichem.com Caledonian House, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG, United Kingdom www.bulk-distributor.com ECOTRANS 2020 First Conference in Russia dedicated to ISO tanks and environment 17 September 2020 Moscow, Russia www.ecotrans-moscow.com Intermodal Europe 2020 6-8 October 2020 Rotterdam, Netherlands www.intermodal-events.com EPCA Annual Meeting The 54th EPCA annual meeting will now be held in a virtual format on the same dates. 4-7 October 2020 www.epca.eu Annual GPCA Forum 7-9 December 2020 Dubai, UAE https://gpcaforum.net/ Port Houston is keeping cargo moving Houston gains in Q1 Port Houston realised strong double-digit He noted that despite challenges, business gains in containers in the first two reflected a bright spot with notice that Evergreen months of the year, resulting in an increase container lines confirmed a new weekly feeder of 11 percent for first quarter volume overall. service from early May. This is a transpacific However, the March volumes in particular then transhipment service with Houston via Manzanillo fell back 11 percent compared to March 2019, (Mexico), Colon (Panama), and Kingston (Jamaica). with steel, breakbulk cargo and autos down for Commission chairman Ric Campo formally the year. announced that the US Army Corps of Engineers At its regular public meeting, port commission (USACE) signed the report recommending executive director Roger Guenther focused on approval of the Houston Ship Channel expansion Houston’s response to the COVID-19 health crisis project. The document is a culmination of a fouryear, US$10 million study conducted by USACE in and highlighted the importance of providing relief to customers and users hit hard financially because partnership with the port to identify needed of the pandemic. The meeting was conducted channel improvements and determine economic electronically, following social distancing value to the nation. guidelines. In his remarks, Campo commented that securing “While we are fortunate to serve the biggest this approval is a milestone in the effort to widen export manufacturing base in the country and are and deepen the Houston Ship Channel. He noted among the largest concentrations of consumers in that the current crisis highlights the critical role the Southern United States, there likely will be ports – and the greater Port of Houston – must further declines,” said Guenther. “Today, we have to ensure cargo keeps moving and that should provide relief to our customers and users as supplies are delivered to hospitals and goods reach possible and appropriate. As the state (Texas) grocery and retail shelves. gradually reopens, we must be prepared and ready Additionally, the commission authorised more to ensure the necessary infrastructure to support than $9 million towards improvements to the our local, state and national economies once it’s wharves and infrastructure at the Turning Basin full steam ahead.” Multi-Purpose and on other terminal properties.