The Dutch port infrastructure is the best in Europe and third best in the world, according to the World Economic Forum's "Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010."
The Dutch infrastructure's high rating is due in part to the major investment projects at the Port of Rotterdam. Almost 15 billion will have been spent between 1997 and 2015 on improvements such as roads, railways, quays and terminals.
For purposes of the study, analysts asked key executives in various countries to rate their local port infrastructure on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being "extremely underdeveloped" and 7 being "well developed and efficient by international standards." The Netherlands scored 6.6, just shy of Singapore and Hong Kong, which scored 6.8, and were ranked first and second, respectively.
Furthermore, the Amsterdam Seaports secured the fourth position on the list of European ports in 2009. This performance clearly shows that the port region has been doing well compared to the rest of Europe. Until year-end 2008 the region had to give precedence to Marseille, the French port which since 2006 has been suffering from declining transhipment, including that of crude oil in 2009. Last year the Amsterdam Seaports benefited from investments made in refined oil products. Fifth on the list is the fast growing Russian oil port Novorossiysk.
The first three positions were taken by the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg respectively.
Source: AAA Matters
