Today, the Chief Executive of Europe's largest port announced that trade had increased in the third quarter, demonstrating that the global supply chain can and will continue to adapt to its new environment.
Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority delivered a statement earlier today highlighting his positive sentiment on the ‘revival of international trade flows’ for the three months ending in September.
While this was still 8% down year over year, it was a solid improvement on the first six months of 2020. Notably, roll-on cargo (cars, trucks), iron ore, scrap and agricultural commodities showed a strong recovery that was close to pre-pandemic levels.
A word of caution was also voiced, with the second wave of the pandemic hitting the northern hemisphere. Castelein said, ‘it was too early to determine whether we have left the worst behind us in economic terms.’