2024 was a mixed year for Europe’s major ports, and many of those trends persisted into the first quarter of 2025. Many of the trends are familiar, as the bulk liquid and dry cargo segments’ fortunes follow shifting energy demand that has swung like a pendulum since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

As energy markets settle into their new normal and reconfigured container routes serve box demand without transiting the Red Sea, fresh disruption emerges in the form of geopolitical trade tensions sparked by Trump’s US administration, and the shaky prospect of brokered truce with the Houthi bringing a return to Suez for shipping. Throughout these changes, the European port sector has continued to invest in the decarbonisation of operations as corporate ambitions and regulatory pressure incentivise greener ports.

The Port of Rotterdam maintained its position as Europe’s busiest container port, handling approximately 13.5m teu, albeit losing ground to second place Antwerp-Bruges. Growth of 2.8% in container volumes in 2024 compared to a 7% contraction in 2023, and the first quarter of 2025 saw a minor contraction in box throughput. Rotterdam said an 8.1% drop in laden export containers showed the weak market position of European industry. Hanging over the port’s box business was the on-off threat of Trump’s tariffs on European imports, although those were yet to be seen in the first quarter figures, said the Port.

Compared to the same period in 2024, overall volumes were driven down by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2025 as oil and oil products, iron ore and coal all weighed on results. Dry bulk contracted by 8.6% as demand for European steel faltered and coal continued to fall from favour in power generation, while liquid bulk fell 8.8% on lower European refining margins and better returns in Asia. Further pressure may be seen in the coming quarters after LyondellBasell/Covestro and Tronox announced plans to close their Rotterdam chemical plants as the global groups reconsidered their European operations.

Despite its various challenges, the Port of Rotterdam recorded an 8% reduction in GHG emissions to 19.2m tonnes in 2024. Rotterdam also continues to develop its CO2 transport and storage project Porthos, which will pump CO2 offshore for permanent storage under the North Sea. Hydrogen pipeline infrastructure is also under development, along with a biofuel plant producing sustainable aviation fuels, and the port carried out its first ammonia bunkering pilot.