Port of Rotterdam Cheaper Than Hamburg

By: Pieter Lalkens
Published: Financieel Dagblad (FD), Monday, March 28, 2016, 8:30 PM
Headline: Rotterdam Route to Bavaria Cheaper Than Hamburg

In the competition with the Port of Hamburg for the favor of southern German companies, Rotterdam holds a cost advantage. Hamburg, however, offers a different benefit: a significantly higher frequency of daily trains to and from southern Germany, which provides greater flexibility for businesses. These findings come from a recently published analysis by the renowned British research firm Drewry.

Strategic Importance for Rotterdam

These insights are especially important as the Port of Rotterdam aims to attract more traffic from economically strong southern Germany in the coming years—a region experiencing stronger growth than the traditionally targeted North Rhine-Westphalia.

Lower “Ad-hoc” Rail Rates

The analysis notably highlights lower rail transport rates from Rotterdam. This is surprising since many freight operators have criticized the high rail infrastructure charges in the Netherlands. Drewry analyst Stijn Rubens suggests that ad-hoc rates—those not set through long-term contracts—are cheaper in Rotterdam, possibly because Rotterdam is “hungrier” to capture market share traditionally dominated by Hamburg.

To support this shift, the Port of Rotterdam recently invited about 150 shippers and logistics providers from southern Germany for a two-day port visit. While this was largely a marketing event, Rubens notes its importance in promoting Rotterdam as a serious alternative.

40-Foot Container from Shanghai: Cost Comparison

Drewry compared sea and rail transport costs for extra-large 40-foot containers from Shanghai to major cities in southern Germany (including Munich and Nuremberg). Customs fees, inspection costs, and tax regulations were not factored in—Rubens says they don’t significantly impact the total per container.

• MUNICH (via Rotterdam): Average cost is $1,874 per container
  → That’s $70 cheaper than via Hamburg

• Rotterdam is also cheaper for routes to Nuremberg and Stuttgart than Hamburg or Antwerp.

Speed vs. Cost

Although Antwerp is the fastest route to Munich (30 days), followed by Hamburg (32 days), and Rotterdam (33 days), cost still outweighs speed for most shippers, says Rubens. Antwerp benefits from the fast sea route of the 2M shipping alliance, but cost remains the key factor.

More Trains from Hamburg = More Flexibility

German entrepreneurs visiting Rotterdam pointed out Hamburg’s strong rail advantage:

• ~20 trains daily from Hamburg to southern Germany

• Only 6 trains per week from Rotterdam

Drewry also identifies this as a critical advantage for Hamburg, offering greater flexibility and reliability.

Non-Financial Barriers for Rotterdam

Rotterdam still faces non-financial challenges in winning over German clients. For example, German companies prefer working with German customs authorities. Rubens adds, “The German automotive industry has long relied on Hamburg. Changing this behavior will take time.”