Figures higher than before the crisis

In the first six months of 2010, Zeeland Seaports showed an upward trend in throughput. During the first half of the year, almost 16.5 million tonnes were transhipped by sea, compared to 13 million tonnes in 2009. This 25% increase signifies a return to the throughput level for the first six months of 2008. This was the year in which the Zeeland ports recorded record throughput of over 33 million tonnes.

The increase largely occurred in liquid and dry bulk. This includes oil products, coal, ores and chemical products. Agricultural products, including the so-called forest products such as wood pulp and cellulose, also did well. In addition to all this, there was marked growth in the transport of cars. The increase involved both incoming and outgoing trade.

The Zeeland ports are recovering more quickly and more robustly than expected. Following a good first quarter, throughput is continuing to develop positively after six months. Naturally, it is still too early to make any predictions for the year as a whole, because we still have to wait and see whether or not the world economy will continue to develop at the present rate.

The other ports are also announcing their throughput figures around now. The port of Antwerp showed an increase of 13%, Zeebrugge had growth of 20% and Ghent recovered by 46%. Rotterdam and Amsterdam will be presenting their figures shortly.

Zeeland Seaports is formed by the ports of Borsele, Vlissingen and Terneuzen.
It is the third largest seaport in the Netherlands, based on maritime transhipment. In terms of added value, it comes second, with a sum of € 4.2 billion. Some 250 companies operate from the port area, and can be divided into 2 clusters: industry and logistics. Together, they account for around 16,000 direct jobs. If we include indirect employment, approximately 18% of the working population of Zeeland owe their job to the Zeeland ports.

In the coming years, Zeeland Seaports wants to build further on its position by developing large-scale container facilities in Vlissingen and expanding the bio-based industry in Terneuzen. This should lead to growth of 50 million tonnes in maritime transhipment by 2020. Inland shipping will also profit from this development.