The Netherlands has the best port infrastructure in the world. That is what the World Economic Forum says in ‘The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013’.
The Netherlands swapped positions with Singapore, which is now second. Hong Kong remains in third place.
The level enjoyed by the current infrastructure is largely thanks to the big investment projects in Rotterdam between 2000 and 2011. Billions were and are being spent on the expansion of roads and railways (A15, port railway line/Betuwe Route), bridges, tunnels, quays, terminals (Maasvlakte layout), refineries/chemical industry, tank storage (e.g. Shell, Vopak, Huntsman, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, VTTI, BTT), biofuels and energy (electricity, LNG).
In the years between now and 2015, the volume of investment will remain high and will total around €15 billion for the business sector alone, calculated from 2008. The government is setting aside an additional € 1.5 billion to improve and increase the capacity of the 45-kilometre long motorway corridor from Maasvlakte to the hinterland.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority spends about € 150 million a year on the maintenance and expansion of roads, quays, safety, the environment, IT systems, etc. in the current port area and hinterland. The Port Authority is putting approximately € 3 billion into the Maasvlakte 2 port expansion project.
[mappress]
Press Release, September 6, 2012