Amsterdam – In 2005, the Port of Amsterdam was busier than ever before. According to preliminary calculations, port activities here expanded by 3 percent last year, which sustained the upward trend seen in recent years. The increase in port business in Amsterdam is mainly attributable to the strong growth in oil products coming in (+25%). All told, the Port of Amsterdam is estimated to have handled a total of about 53.5 million metric tons of cargo in 2005.

So said Hans Gerson – Managing Director of the Port of Amsterdam – Monday at his organization’s New Year’s meeting for employees. Gerson also took this occasion to announce that the amount of cargo handled at the Port of Amsterdam would continue to grow in 2006.

The growth at the Port of Amsterdam compensates for the drop-off in business at the other North Sea Channel ports (Velsen-IJmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad). Particularly the Corus steel plant in IJmuiden experienced a slower year. It is estimated that, in 2005, the ports along the North Sea Channel jointly matched the record set in 2004.

Rosy future
Hans Gerson has high hopes for 2006, expecting to see growth in various sectors. “The demand for oil products keeps rising, and the companies importing these products have already begun expanding their capacity. On top of that, I expect that the Ceres Paragon container terminal, which received its first customer in the second half of 2005, will make a stronger contribution to the port’s activities in 2006. And the transshipment of coal, which fell off slightly, will grow strongly. Generally speaking, we are anticipating a strong performance. While we will not be able to achieve the 16 percent growth seen in 2004, we are bound to do better than the 3 percent growth experienced in 2005.”

Betuwe Railroad Line
The sustained growth in transshipment activities at the Port of Amsterdam is one of the reasons why this port authority has decided to take part in the consortium operating the Betuwe Railroad Line, which will soon be completed to connect the so called ‘Holland Delta’ with the German hinterland. From 2007 onward, goods arriving at the Port of Amsterdam can be transported swiftly to Germany using the new Betuwe Line. To that end, a railroad line from Amsterdam will then link up with the Betuwe Line at the town of Geldermalsen.

Land leased
In 2005, the Port of Amsterdam leased 20 hectares of land. This is the net amount. In other words, the acreage leased minus the acreage that came available again.