ROTTTERDAM 22 August 2012: In the first half of 2012, 222 million tonnes of cargo was handled in the port of Rotterdam, 3.2% up on the first half of 2011. Incoming trade rose by 1% to 155 million tonnes and outgoing trade by 8% to 66 million tonnes. Bulk throughput increased by 5% to 147 million tonnes and container throughput was 2% up at 63 million tonnes. Less general cargo was handled: down 8% to 12 million tonnes. Less agribulk (-11%), iron ore and scrap (-15%), other dry bulk (-9%) and other general cargo (-25%) were imported and exported. The other types of cargo were up: coal (+2%), crude oil (+10%), mineral oil products (+14%), other liquid bulk (+6%), roll on/roll off (+1%) and containers (+2%). In numbers, container throughput fell by close on 2% to 5.9 million TEU (20-foot units).