The Port of Rotterdam reported record volumes 466.4m tonnes in 2015 boosted by increased oil trade.

Throughput at the port last year was up 4.9% on 2014. Rotterdam saw an 8.1% increase in crude oil volumes to 103.1m tonnes and 18% increase in throughput of oil products to 88.5m tonnes.

"Low oil prices result in high margins for the refineries, so they have large quantities of oil shipped in for refining. This not only applies to the refineries in Europe but also to those in Russia. The latter produce a relatively large amount of fuel oil which is shipped to the Far East via Rotterdam,” commented Allard Castelein, ceo of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

LNG saw a 91.3% jump in throughput at the port last year, however, volumes remain small at 2.3m tonnes. What the port describes as “other liquid bulk” saw 0.5% contraction in volumes in 2015 to 30.8m tonnes.

Combined all liquid bulk volumes at the Port of Rotterdam were up 10.9% last year and accounted for 48% of total throughput.

Container volumes mirrored figures reported by a number of ports in Asia 0.5% drop in volumes last year 12.2m teu.

Looking to 2016 the port said it aims to match the 2015 throughput figures.

The port is also positioning itself to take advantage of developments in clean energy. “Due to the need to combat climate change, the port is fully committed to energy efficiency as well as the development of renewable energy and bio-based chemistry. Rotterdam already has one of the most energy efficient refining and chemicals clusters and the largest bio-based cluster in the world. It is our ambition to retain our leading position,” Castelein said.