2012 Independent Storage Survey: ARA is better in Rotterdam
The Rotterdam oil storage business has strengthened on the growth in long-distance trade
Business conditions for independent oil storage operators in western Europe’s Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) supply hub are diverging. While Rotterdam operators are benefiting from growth in oil volumes through the port, business in Amsterdam and Antwerp has become increasingly competitive over the past two years. Overall, there has been a substantial upturn in flows through the ARA ports, led by a strong increase in Rotterdam. Imports and exports of crude oil and refined products through the three ports were up by 7.3% in the first nine months of 2012, compared with the same period the previous year (see Table 1). The decline in Antwerp flows is attributed to the shutdown in the early mo
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