The Port of Rotterdam Authority (Netherlands), the largest pier in Europe, expressed its “concern” about the “significant complications” that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could have on trade flows and the energy market entering the port from Russia for further use in Europe.
“This war may have significant complications for us”, pointed out the executive director of the Port Authority, Allard Castelein, during the presentation of the annual figures of the port, referring to the consequences of a possible European boycott of Russian products.
The port of Rotterdam handles around 62 million tons of Russia-related goods each year, which is equivalent to almost 15% of the total and has a wharf value of approximately 30,000 million euros annually, according to the Dutch agency ANP.
This refers mainly to coal, crude oil and natural gas, but also to containers linked to Moscow, while Russia also exports steel, copper, nickel and aluminum to other parts of the world through the port of Rotterdam, which in itself has as its most important piers that of Saint Petersburg and Murmansk.
Many raw materials, such as nickel and copper, come from Russia and are used in industrial processes. Although some resources are “replaceable”, others are more difficult to obtain, said the director of the Port Authority.
Castelein warned that, in the event of an acute crisis with Moscow involving a stoppage of gas supplies to Europe in response to sanctions against Russia, Rotterdam will be affected by its role as an important energy port and the factories in the jetty area. they may even close due to gas shortages.
“In a conflict situation, energy is always extremely important”, he lamented, recalling that there is also not enough liquefied natural gas in other parts of the world to compensate for an interruption in the supply of Russian gas to Europe, and the infrastructure of Rotterdam is not sufficient to be able to process it in its entirety.
Source: Gestion
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