THE Port of Rotterdam increased throughput 7.8 per cent year on year in the first nine months to 15 million TEU, reports London's Port Technology.

It was the first European port to surpass 15 million TEU within a year.

Transshipment box numbers grew more than tonnage due to a sharp decline in the average weight of full containers, said the report. Transport prices have sharply risen over the past few quarters also.

As a result, the transport of relatively heavy, low-value freight has decreased. This effect was mostly noticed with export container figures and can also be seen on the import side, but it has not been confirmed yet.

"In 2022 we expect the extreme congestion at the Rotterdam container terminals to continue. This is because the international containership fleet and terminal capacity are not growing at a rate commensurate with demand," said the port's commercial director Emile Hofstede.

"The port authority will continue to emphasise and encourage the importance of digitisation, cooperation and data sharing to provide a better response to the global pressure on the logistics chain - now and in the future," he said.