Rotterdam, one of the world's largest fresh produce ports, is of primary importance to European fruit and vegetable imports and exports. To further strengthen and expand this leading position, the Rotterdam Food Hub will be realized at the Kop van de Beer. This site was chosen because of its convenient location in relation to the Maasvlakte and the North Sea.
The 60-hectare Rotterdam Food Hub will focus on the entire agrifood sector. "We want to facilitate the chilled product supply chain as best possible. We're considering refrigerated containers for fresh fruit and vegetable imports and exports, as well as frozen products such as meat or fish. Fruit from , for example, South America or South Africa, is, of course, a substantial part of this," says Sander Jongeneel, the Port of Rotterdam Authority's business manager.
The Kop van de Beer's infrastructure will include two quays designed for both deep-sea vessels and barges. The northern dock will specialize in handling reefers and refrigerated containers requiring specific handling because of their time-sensitive cargo. Almost 95% of fresh produce transport at the Port of Rotterdam is containerized, but there is still room for conventional vessels. According to Anne Saris, Agrofood business manager, a trend in the main fruit regions in Latin America shows that larger ships of up to about 10,000 TEU will eventually replace the smaller, 2,000 to 3,000 TEU capacity container ships.
The Rotterdam Food Hub will complement the existing container terminals and agrifood facilities and have shortsea feeder service options. Rotterdam remains Europe's "first port of call" for many services, especially from South America and South Africa. That 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 key to increasing efficiency. Though the Kop van de Beer itself offers no room for a rail connection, there is one a mere 200m away. The possibility of transporting cargo by train is, thus, being explored. By cooperating with customs to reduce inspection turnaround time, efficiency is further promoted.
The considerable reefer loads the Rotterdam Food Hub will process, makes Illegal activities a major concern. Customs and the seaport police are working closely to ensure security. Sustainability is another challenge, but it also offers opportunities. The Rotterdam Food Hub wants to make the agrifood sector more sustainable by reducing refrigerated and frozen warehouses' carbon footprint and having on-site energy generation and storage. Also, the availability of space at the port is a concern. The many stakeholders and issues that must be considered put the Kop van de Beer under pressure.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam
Tel: +31 (0)10 252 10 10
Anne Saris
[email protected]
Sander Jongeneel
[email protected]