Container throughput at the Port of Rotterdam increased by 3.1% in 2025, supported by a strong second-half rebound in imports from Asia and rising trade flows with North America.
However, ongoing congestion and the restructuring of carrier alliances prevented Europe’s largest port from fully capitalizing on that momentum. A “significant amount of throughput volume” was diverted to competing ports, the Port of Rotterdam Authority said Thursday.
A total of 14.2 million TEUs moved through Rotterdam in 2025. CEO Boudewijn Siemons described the year as “challenging,” set against “a backdrop of further escalating geopolitical tensions.”
“Chemical and logistics companies in our port were under considerable pressure, and European industry was affected by increasing global competition,” Siemons said.
He emphasized the importance of resilience, agility and intensified cooperation at both national and European levels to safeguard supply chains and industrial competitiveness.
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Asian Imports Rise Despite Overall Annual Decline
Full-year imports totaled 6.8 million TEUs, down 5.7% year over year. Yet the annual figures conceal divergent trends.
Imports from Asia rose 9.3% during the second half of the year, while two-way trade with North America increased 13.6%.
Exports grew strongly, up 12.7% to reach 7.4 million TEUs.
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Europe’s Competitive Position Under Strain
The port pointed to Europe’s deteriorating competitive position across several industrial sectors, which placed downward pressure on container volumes and transshipment activity, contributing to higher empty container flows.
The weakening industrial base also weighed on Rotterdam’s bulk shipments of steel, coal and raw materials, amid concerns over lagging investment in European industry.
Over the past year, several chemical companies have announced plans to close facilities in Rotterdam, while investments in renewable fuels and other projects have been paused.
The port authority noted that while Dutch government measures introduced in 2025 — aimed at providing greater tax predictability, fostering innovation and reducing regulatory burdens — were positive, they remain insufficient to fully level the competitive playing field within Europe. Competition from China continues to pose challenges.
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Signs of Stabilization in Eurozone Manufacturing
There are, however, signs of potential stabilization.
The latest Eurozone manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), compiled by Hamburg Commercial Bank and S&P Global, showed business activity in February rising at its fastest pace in three months.
Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said Europe’s manufacturing sector may be approaching a turning point.
“Overall, it appears that the manufacturing sector is on a more stable footing and could contribute to overall growth this year rather than acting as a drag on the economy,” he wrote in his PMI analysis.
