Rotterdam is Brazil’s most important European port with in 2008 an annual throughput of 37.6 million tons of goods (+12% v. 2007, 33.5 mln). By far the most of the cargo is exported by Brazil: 36 (2006 31.7) million tons. The Netherlands rank four in the Brazilian export list, with a share of 5.2% in 2008, after the USA, Argentina and China but before Germany(1).
Iron ore is the prime product shipped to Rotterdam with 27.1 (23) million tons. Brazilian imports via Rotterdam total 1.6 (1.7) million tons. Brazil accounts for 41% of the total volume, 92 million tons, transported between Rotterdam and the Americas. The United States ranks second with 24 million tons. Brazil’s share within the Rotterdam total is 9% (8%), which puts it on the third place, behind the United Kingdom (51.9mt) and Russia (43.7mt) but before China (25.5 mt) and the United States (24 mt).