North Sea Port has a highly diversified portfolio of activities. In the first place the port authority aims to maintain and further consolidate existing commercial and industrial activities and the associated employment.
In order to strengthen its market position, North Sea Port will be concentrating its efforts on seven spearhead sectors:
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Chemicals
North Sea Port has many companies in the chemicals sector, which together produce chemical products such as liquid chemicals, lubricating oils, gases and plastics for use in the construction sector, the car industry, the packaging industry and agriculture.
In order to ensure that production and transport both proceed smoothly, an entire chemical logistics chain has been developed, from storage in specialised tanks and warehouses to chemicals transport and maintenance of this process industry. The chemicals firms in the port area employ thousands of people.
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Steel
North Sea Port is on the world map when it comes to steel. Steel is imported and exported through the port. There are companies that import raw materials and semimanufactures to produce steel for cars, household appliances and more. Other companies export steel or process high-value steel products such as aluminium . The port also demolishes and dismantles ships and offshore installations. And there are companies that reuse steel and scrap metal, for example in blast furnaces. The extensive activities in the steel industry provide thousands of jobs.
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Building materials
North Sea Port has a substantial building materials cluster handling sand and gravel, wood, concrete and cement. The supply of such raw materials in bulk via the water is often one of the reasons for setting up business in the port. Various specialised companies use them to produce building materials. These are stored in specialised tanks and warehouses and then transported to the hinterland.
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Energy
North Sea Port is continuing its development as an ‘Energy Port’. The most important areas of focus are sustainable hydrogen, CC(U)S (carbon capture, utilisation and storage), electrification and heat exchange. The availability of infrastructure and sustainable energy and raw materials are very important for facilitating further growth in these areas. North Sea Port is the European leader in the production of biofuels and also has a number of large solar farms and wind turbines.
North Sea Port aims to be a hub in the European hydrogen network. This position depends on a combination of local large-scale production of sustainable hydrogen, imports of green hydrogen, large-scale use of hydrogen in the port area, transit to the hinterland and infrastructure to connect supply and demand. The infrastructure will be connected to the national 'backbones' through which North Sea Port is connected to other European ports and industrial areas.
The landing of offshore wind energy and the expansion of the high-voltage network (380kV) are essential to be able to supply green electricity to the entire port cluster.
The port area has a lot of residual heat that can be exchanged between companies.
Many companies want to improve their energy efficiency and are working to reduce their CO2 emissions.
North Sea Port leads the European market in the production of biofuels.
The port also has a number of large solar farms and wind turbines.
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Automotive
The automotive sector is an important pillar for North Sea Port. These factories generate significant flows of parts and finished products, and are the main industrial employers in the port. They also create many indirect jobs at suppliers and logistics service providers. The port is actually the main European logistics hub for certain brands. In addition, in terms of import and export, thousands of cars from numerous other makes and trailers pass through the port via roll-on/roll-off transport.
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Food and feed
North Sea Port is developing into a real food port thanks to the huge storage capacity available. Examples of food products that pass through the port include vegetables, fruit, concentrated orange juice, fish/fish oil, grains, seeds, sugar, molasses, yeast, chocolate, animal feed and meat.
Veterinary products arriving at North Sea Port from all over the world can be transported smoothly, safely and efficiently deeper into Western Europe thanks to the various border control points.
The port was also a pioneer of biofuels and is still a leader in the production of bioethanol and diesel.
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Value-added logistics
North Sea Port has 500 hectares of business premises at its disposal for logistics activities with added value, distribution and warehousing. There is room for a wide range of investments, which will ensure further growth in the storage and distribution of raw materials, consumer goods and semimanufactures. As a true multimodal port, North Sea Port offers hinterland connections to many destinations in Europe via inland navigation, rail, road and pipeline.
It is also strongly committed to growth in the circular economy and the energy sector. These sectors with growth potential are also woven into the seven spearhead sectors.