3PL/Logistics

In the crisis year 2009, inland shipping strengthened its position in the hinterland transport of containers, with its share in the modal split of the port of Rotterdam rising from 30% to 33%

The last time such a large gain was recorded was in the previous century

Rail transport declined from 13% to 11% and is back at the 2006 level Road transport moved back from 57% to 56%

The total volume of hinterland transport dropped 12% from 782 million TEU in 2008 to 687 million TEU in 2009

755,000 TEU was transported by rail, a drop of 25% compared with 101 million TEU in 2008

Barges moved 227 million TEU, 3% less than the 234 million TEU in 2008

Truck volumes dropped 14% from 448 million to 3,84 million TEU

Rail transport either would not or could not adapt its tariffs fast enough to the declining total volume The Betuwe Route tariffs were reduced only in late-2009

Apart from inland shipping and trucking being more flexible in their tariffs when there is an oversupply in transport capacity, inland shipping took advantage of the improved handling capacity at the deep sea terminals

Road transport suffered relatively more during the crisis because it transports the vast majority of ro-ro containers This intra-European traffic was hit harder by the economic decline

The future growth of container handling takes place at the large terminals in the western part of the port From 2013, terminals at Maasvlakte 2 will come into operation Here and on the present Maasvlakte, the goal is to realise a modal split in 2035 of 45% for inland shipping, 20% for rail and 35% for road

The Dutch government and the Port of Rotterdam are pursuing a policy aimed at decreasing the share of road haulage; the accomplishment of a modal shift Since 1993, the trucking's share has declined from 66% (42 million TEU) to around 50% (97 million TEU)