Container Throughput in Rotterdam Declines

After experiencing growth in 2014, the Port of Rotterdam saw a decline in cargo throughput in 2015, partly due to reduced volumes of goods from China. At the same time, the scale-up in container shipping is becoming increasingly evident, as larger container ships take up a greater share of traffic.

Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV)

The share of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) more than tripled within one year, now accounting for 10% of total volume. This trend is also reflected in the growing number of Post-Panamax vessels, which are designed to fit through the expanded Panama Canal, linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Expansion of the Panama Canal

Completed in 2015, the expansion of the Panama Canal involved an investment of €7 billion, mainly for the construction of two new lock complexes. Thanks to this upgrade, the new generation of Post-Panamax ships can now transport three times more cargo with the same crew size, improving both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.