The cargo throughput rose by 4.1% from 84.4 million metric tons in 2006 to 87.8 million tons in 2007. The biggest contribution to the growth of port activities in the whole region was made by the Port of Amsterdam, whose cargo throughput increased by 7.1% from 61 million tons in 2006 to 65.4 million tons in 2007.

In his New Year’s Speech on January 2, the Port of Amsterdam’s CEO Hans Gerson expected the final figures for the throughput in the Amsterdam Port Area and the Port of Amsterdam in 2007 to show a growth of 1.4% and 4.6%, respectively. Thanks to a growth spurt in the last months of 2007, the definitive figures turned out to be better by a considerable margin.
Fastest-growing segments in the Port of Amsterdam

Coal

In 2007, the transshipment of coal in the Port of Amsterdam jumped by 19,6% to 14.7 million tons (in comparison to 2006). If we include the 2.5 millions of Amsterdam-bound coal in sea ships that was unloaded in IJmuiden using small vessels, the transshipment of coal reached a total of 17.3 million tons. The biggest driver was increased demand for coal by German power plants.

Containers

In 2007, the transshipment of containers in the Port of Amsterdam jumped by 26.2% from 305,995 TEUs in 2006 to 386.236 TEUs in 2007. One reason for this growth is the increasing number of large ships (capacity of 8,000 TEUs) being deployed by the Grand Alliance. On top of that, Amsterdam is now being served by new and more frequent intermodal services with its hinterland (Prague, Strasbourg, Duisburg and other parts of the Netherlands).

Cars

The transshipment of cars rose by 33.8% to 287.305 units. The expansion concerned both imports (+29.5% to 192,343) and exports (+43.4% to 94.962).

Investments

In 2007, €48.3 million was invested in the port infrastructure. Over a great many years, the investment level has remained stable. The most important investments involved the completion of the second phase of the coal terminal in the Afrikahaven (Africa Port); the construction of the Zanzibarhaven (Zanzibar Port) at a cost of €10 million; as well as the construction of the quay and a third covered terminal for Waterland at a cost of €6.7 million.

Lodewijk Asscher, Amsterdam Alderman for Port Affairs, was particularly pleased with the impressive figures on the cargo throughput in 2007, all the more so because they were achieved after the record-setting year 2006, when the port experienced a growth of over 13%. He comments, “This is a big boost to the employment situation in the port area. A total of 32,000 people work in the Amsterdam Port Area (the whole region). If you include indirect employment, the total is over 53,000 people. Clearly, the port area is a powerful job creator and a strong pillar of the economy in Amsterdam and its surrounding area.”

“When the City Council was debating the City Budget for 2007, it adopted the so-called Motion 617. This meant that, for the period through 2010, the Council earmarked €2.1 million for training up low-skilled people in particular, so that they can find jobs. In this effort, the Port is serving as a pilot project. We have now set up the Ports & Logistic College in West Amsterdam. Each year, this school will move 500 students into jobs in the port and the rest of the logistics sector.”

“On top of that, it is heartening to hear that the first group of students have completed their Dockworker training at Nova College. Uniquely, these students not only graduated from this school, but also immediately landed jobs in the port.”

Breakdown of cargo throughput per sector in the Port of Amsterdam