The Port Authority managing the port of Rotterdam has asked the Government of the Netherlands for “additional measures” to align the conditions of the “Dutch” industry with those of neighboring countries.
According to the Dutch port, although the country’s government has recently made “positive” decisions in this regard, “new measures” are necessary following the closure of several companies in the chemical sector. “A closure that has resulted in job losses in the first half of 2025,” emphasizes the port of Rotterdam.
These closures “confirm our concerns,” adds the Port Authority before warning about the “weakening competitiveness of the European industry, which remains a cause for concern.”
At the same time, the port of Rotterdam has expressed concern about “the lack of market investment” in the maritime sector. An issue attributed to the “lack of favorable conditions,” as argued in a statement released earlier this week.
In the words of Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port Authority of Rotterdam, “in recent months, we have faced economic uncertainties and investment delays.” In this context, he explained that it is “essential” for the port industry to “maintain its competitiveness to avoid weakening Europe’s strategic autonomy.”
During the first half of 2025, traffic at the port of Rotterdam fell by 4.1%—compared to the same period in 2024—with 211 million tons handled. The largest decline was in dry bulk, with an 8.9% drop in traffic, followed by liquid bulk, which fell by 5.3%.
These figures contrast with container traffic, which grew by 2.7%. In fact, during this period, 7 million TEUs were reached, a growth the Port Authority attributes to “the rebound in European consumption.”
Despite the 4.1% decline, “the results of the port of Rotterdam remain stable,” concludes the Port Authority managing the Dutch facility.
