The Port of Rotterdam is set to expand with a 94-acre food hub

A 94-acre food hub will be the newest addition to the Port of Rotterdam, one of Europe's most important maritime entry points. 

The Rotterdam Food Hub will have its own energy supply and feature a new 547-yard quay wall, as well as various warehouses and terminal facilities to store and tranship chilled and frozen agrifood products mainly from South America.

The project is located on the ‘Kop van de Beer’ site in the western Europoort area, near the entrance to the Maasvlakte. 

“At this strategic location, we bring together logistics, warehousing and infrastructure, enabling our customers to handle their freight more quickly, sustainably and efficiently,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority. “With this development, we are taking an important step towards further strengthening our position as Europe’s leading agrifood port.”

Artist Impression Rotterdam Food Hub | Port of Rotterdam

The port authority added that the project has security built in by design. For that, the company is in close collaboration with customs to ensure that shipments from Latin America are processed in a controlled, secure, and efficient manner. 

The Port of Rotterdam will feature Europe’s most modern maritime food hub 

In a press release, the Port of Rotterdam Authority explained that it’s partnering with Swiss real estate developer Necron Group and Argentine logistics platform PTP Group on this project, which comprises four plots. 

Necron Group will build two cold storage and freezer warehouses on two of them, with a total surface area of approximately 476,000 square feet. On a third plot, the Swiss company will develop an energy hub that will supply the terminal and the cold stores with power from the outset, enabling them to be put into operation immediately. 

“Drawing on our experience with food and cold chain projects, we can immediately facilitate large-scale and efficient operations at this site,” said Gerard van Liempt, CEO of Necron Group.

©Kees Torn | Port of Rotterdam

Logistics provider PTP Group will be in charge of developing the associated 240,000 square-foot terminal on the fourth plot along the Calandkanaal. 

According to the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the terminal will have three berths for deep-sea and inland shipping vessels, along with a waiting area and the necessary logistical and infrastructural facilities “to ensure the efficient, water-based handling of cargo flows.” Additionally, PTP will become one of the tenants of the Necron Group’s cold storage and freezer warehouses. 

“We are strengthening our position as a port and logistics service provider in Europe. We are creating a direct link between the quay, storage and transport, enabling greater use of maritime and inland shipping transport and reducing processing times for agrifood flows,” said Guillermo Misiano, CEO of PTP Group.

The parties will now focus on finalizing the project's details and applying for the necessary permits with local authorities. This process is expected to lead to the final investment decisions by the Necron Group, the PTP Group, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority in early 2027.

*All images courtesy of Port of Rotterdam Authority.

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