The Rotterdam Effect

The economic significance of the Port of Rotterdam is twice as high as previously calculated.

€45.6 billion ($52 billion) or 6.2 percent of the added value of the Netherlands is due to the port, according to The Rotterdam effect - Impact of Mainport Rotterdam on the Dutch economy study conducted by Erasmus University Rotterdam, commissioned by the Port Authority. The figures indicate that the Port of Rotterdam contributes twice as much to the gross domestic product than previously calculated. 

Traditionally, when determining the economic significance of the port, only direct employment and added value were measured, including the so-called backwards indirect effects. These backwards effects are the added value that is a consequence of port companies purchasing elsewhere in the Dutch economy.

However, the new study also included the forwards indirect effects of the Port of Rotterdam - economic activities that are made possible in the Netherlands due to the presence of the Port of Rotterdam, such as re-export via logistics and distribution.

The report finds that the future earning capacity of the port is healthy, certainly in the context of digitization and energy transition, with strong growth possibilities for the maritime manufacturing industry and maritime business services in Rotterdam.

In the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report presented by the World Economic Forum, the Netherlands was ranked best in Europe regarding its transport network and water and energy supply. Its efficient sea and airports achieved particularly high scores, but the quality of the road network and access to electricity supply were also ranked highly.