Rotterdam port processed 10% less cargo in the first three months of this year than it did in the same period of 2008, according to port authority figures published on Thursday.

The port authority earlier forecast that total throughput will drop by up to 8% this year.
In particular, shipments of iron ore and scrap metal were down 50%. Container shipping was also down 18%, the port authority said.
Rotterdam port is the third biggest port in the world in terms of total cargo volumes.