Port of Rotterdam Sees Less Cargo in 1H 2016

Port of Rotterdam Authority The Port of Rotterdam handled 3% less cargo in the first six months of 2016 compared to the exceptionally good first half of 2015, with the dry bulk segment being the leading under-performer for the period year-on-year.  Europes busiest port handled 9.9% less dry bulk cargo in the first half of 2016 than in the same period last year. Liquid bulk segment marked a 1.1% drop in volume, while the container throughput decreased by 2.3%. The ports turnover in the first half of 2016 was EUR 336.9 million, a EUR 2 million decrease compared to the first six months of 2015. Sea port tariffs decreased by EUR 5.8 million, which is mainly attributable to reduced throughput figures. Income from contracts increased by EUR 4.5 million. Net result in the first six months of 2016 totalled EUR 96.6 million, compared to EUR 122.5 million in 2015. The port says that this difference can be attributed almost entirely to a one-time payment in connection with the partial cancellation of an interest rate swap. Investments for the full year 2016 are expected to be virtually equal to those made in 2015.