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Port of Rotterdam Authority launches ‘Rotterdam Food Hub’

Published by , Digital Editorial Assistant
Dry Bulk,


Rotterdam is expanding its position as one of Western Europe’s biggest transit ports for agricultural, horticultural and fishery sector products. Part of this strategy is the establishment of the Rotterdam Food Hub at Calandkanaal, at the entrance to Maasvlakte. The 60 ha. industrial site is being prepared to offer optimal facilities for ‘agrofood’ sector companies. Land allocation discussions taking place with interested parties for over half of the 60 ha. industrial site near Maasvlakte.

Port of Rotterdam Authority launches ‘Rotterdam Food Hub’

Population growth and increasing prosperity, particularly in emerging economies, have resulted in ‘agrofood’ becoming a growth market. After the United States, the Netherlands is the world’s largest agriculture exporter. Almost €92 billion was traded in 2017, partly due to Rotterdam’s throughput of 16 million tpy.

Speed

“We aim to further accommodate our client’s growth in agrofood,” explained Emile Hoogsteden, director of containers, breakbulk and logistics at the Port of Rotterdam Authority. “The Rotterdam Food Hub offers excellent opportunities for this: not only are Maasvlakte’s large deep-sea container terminals just a stone’s throw away, but the Rotterdam Food Hub will also have access to multiple berths for sea-going vessels especially equipped for refrigerated cargo.”

Berths for inland vessels will also be available and warehouses will be located immediately adjacent to the quays to enable refrigerated and frozen cargo to be stored, processed or transported quickly. “In agrofood, we work with perishable goods, so speed is crucial,” stated Hoogsteden.

Hotspots

Another feature of the Rotterdam Food Hub is that various shared facilities can be used on the site. For instance, quays and services for transport, storage, access control and customs can be shared.

“The Rotterdam Food Hub forms a fantastic and extremely welcome addition to the agrofood hotspots that already exist in the Port of Rotterdam, such as Cool Port and the large cold storage warehouses including at Maasvlakte and Eemhaven. Its location close to Greenports such as Barendrecht, Ridderkerk and Westland is, of course, also ideal,” said Hoogsteden.

Start of construction

Of the 60 ha., approximately 45 are available for issue to companies, and land allocation discussions are already ongoing with candidates for some 35 ha. Preparatory works such as soil surveys already took place this spring and the construction of a temporary road and utilities for the building work will start from June. The development of the site, which will be known as ‘Kop van de Beer’ (‘Head of the Bear’), will start in July with construction work for the site’s first client. The first companies will be operational there by the end of 2020.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/dry-bulk/01052019/port-of-rotterdam-authority-launches-rotterdam-food-hub/

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