Rotterdam is one of the world’s largest ports for fresh produce and of paramount importance for the European import and export of fruit and vegetables. To further strengthen and expand this leading position, the Rotterdam Food Hub is being built at Kop van de Beer. This location was chosen because of its favorable location in relation to the Maasvlakte and the North Sea.
The 60-hectare Rotterdam Food Hub will focus on the entire agricultural and food sector. “We want to support the supply chain for chilled products as much as possible. We are thinking about refrigerated containers for the import and export of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as for frozen products such as meat or fish. Fruit from, for example, South America or South Africa is of course an essential part of this,” says Sander Jongeneel, Managing Director of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
The infrastructure of Kop van de Beer will include two quays designed for both ocean-going vessels and inland vessels. The northern dock is specialised in handling refrigerated and reefer containers, which require special treatment due to their time-critical cargo. Almost 95% of fresh produce transport in the Port of Rotterdam is in containers, but there is still room for conventional vessels. According to Anne Saris, Agrofood Managing Director, a trend in the main fruit-growing areas of Latin America shows that larger vessels of up to around 10,000 TEU will eventually replace the smaller container vessels with 2,000 to 3,000 TEU capacity.
The Rotterdam Food Hub complements the existing container terminals and agri-food facilities and offers options for shortsea feeder services. Rotterdam remains Europe’s ‘first port of call’ for many services, especially from South America and South Africa. This is important for fruit importers in several Dutch regions, as Rotterdam offers the fastest route. The new Blankenburg connection will improve logistics to the hinterland.
Intermodal transport is the key to increasing efficiency. Although there is no space for a rail connection at the Kop van de Beer itself, there is one just 200 metres away. The possibility of transporting goods by rail is therefore being investigated. By working with customs to shorten inspection times, efficiency will be further increased.
Due to the significant refrigerated cargo that the Rotterdam Food Hub will process, illegal activities are a major concern. Customs and the seaport police work closely together to ensure safety. Sustainability is another challenge, but also offers opportunities. The Rotterdam Food Hub aims to make the agri-food sector more sustainable by reducing the carbon footprint of cold and frozen storage facilities and by operating energy production and storage on-site. The availability of space in the port is also a problem. The many parties involved and issues that need to be considered put pressure on the Kop van de Beer.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam
Phone: +31 (0)10 252 10 10
Anne Saris
(email protected)
Sander Jongeneel
(email protected)
