Groningen Seaports will continue to invest heavily in its industrial sites, despite last year being a difficult year for the industry. At the New Year’s Reception on Thursday 9 January 2025, Cas König, CEO of Groningen Seaports, said that the port authority had invested some sixteen million euro itself and that there is plenty of construction in the area: “The ports are developing at a fair rate. In 2024, businesses in our management area completed a total of 250 million euros worth of investment, and right now construction work worth around 2 billion euros is in progress. If we look at the construction of energy infrastructure, you can add another 1.5 billion euros of investments on top”.

The preliminary annual figures for 2024 were announced at the New Year’s reception. The port authority expects a negative net result of around four million euros. The main reason for this result is an incidental cost item, being the remediation of the former site of Schipper Recycling in Delfzijl. “Remediating the former site of Schipper was a significant setback, but as port authority we take our social responsibility and deal with the site to make sure it can be allocated again. The bottom line is a negative result for 2024, but we still have a good structural line”, said König.

The preliminary turnover for the year 2024 is 46 million euros. In terms of the shipping figures, the year 2024 was stable compared to 2023. In 2024, total transshipment amounted to 13.6 million tonnes.

Land allocation
When we consider the industrial sites, 2024 was a year with plenty of activity. Many different businesses have been building or opened their factories. Several land allocations have also been completed, and construction on those sites has started already. Overall, 25 hectares of land were allocated during 2024. König: “We saw a slowdown in the land-allocation figures, which we had anticipated. We notice that energy-intensive companies have been going through rough periods for quite some time. High energy prices, rising interest rates and construction costs, and the challenge to obtain permits and achieve electricity connections cause companies to be reluctant when it comes to their final investment decision. In 2024, we saw a clear increase in businesses that aborted their investments. Even so, we do everything we can to continue supporting the businesses”.

Continued investment
Despite a slowdown, Groningen Seaports continues to invest in the industrial sites, which is part and parcel of its role as an economic engine for the northern Netherlands. Over the coming years, the Oosterhorn-Zuid area, which was introduced as Circulands in 2024, will be developed further. This area will be set up as a circular park and will focus on companies in the circular sector and green chemicals; it will serve as an example of the industrial site of the future. “So far, we have invested more than twenty million euros in that site, and last year various activities could be seen. A range of businesses are busy building their factories. Circulands will have to provide a good balance between industrial activities and a healthy living environment for local residents”.

Positive about the future
The investments that are made at the moment, together with industry that is going through difficult times, produce mixed feelings for Groningen Seaports. Even so, the port authority takes a positive view of the future. “If we consider the construction work and the interest in our remaining sites, we stay positive. At the same time, it is important to monitor what the various developments mean for the direction we will take. Our starting point remains a stable result and investing in our product: infrastructure, quays, and land. Where necessary, we will have to make strict choices. We also aim to have more involvement from local residents in the things we do. With the knowledge and expertise we have in house, we are confident about our future”, concluded König.