Rhenus Establishes Rail Transshipment Facility at Bremen Weserport

For more than 25 years, Rhenus Weserport Bremen has stood for professional and proper handling of various goods and raw materials. As part of the Rhenus Group, the port agency has focused on the transshipment of ocean-going vessels to road transport and inland ships. For its recent collaboration with Nabaltec AG, Rhenus Weserport is now significantly expanding its existing rail connection. The rail transshipment facility at Germany’s southernmost seaport will serve the loading of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide from smelters abroad.

(Bremen) As a provider of environmentally friendly, flame-retardant fillers and specialty oxides, Nabaltec AG serves growth markets around the world. Due to high energy costs and the expected deindustrialization in Germany, the company is expanding its sourcing options for the key raw materials aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide to smelters across Europe, Brazil, and – depending on cost and quality situations – worldwide.

The raw materials are transported by sea to Germany, where the transshipment for Nabaltec saves costs compared to Dutch and Belgian seaports and ensures supply security through storage in Bremen.

“The decision to handle aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide through Rhenus Weserport was made due to the existing rail connection, which is excellent for order-related expansion. Other decisive factors were the direct connection to ocean freight and the existing transshipment and storage options. From Bremen, the raw material is transported directly by rail to us in Bavaria. We expect cost advantages here due to the expansion of our supplier portfolio, allowing us to continue offering our products competitively,” explains Johannes Heckmann, CEO of Nabaltec AG.

Aluminum hydroxide is an important flame-retardant component of plastic cables and other metallic conductors. Aluminum oxide is used in the production of technical ceramics as well as in the refractory and polishing industries.

Rhenus Weserport has already begun handling goods for Nabaltec. With the expansion of transshipment options to rail facilities, the port service provider is securing its future. “This new business area is an important development for us. With the first rail loading facility, we are opening up new markets and cooperation opportunities,” explains Rudolf Egbert, Managing Director of Rhenus Weserport. “Especially in times of deindustrialization in Germany, this opens up new opportunities for us.”

Commissioning Planned for Late 2024

Until the new fully automated rail transshipment facility at Terminal 4 is completed, Nabaltec is temporarily using Terminal 2 in the Bremen industrial port for the transshipment of aluminum hydroxide. The approval and construction processes for the conversion of Terminal 4 are in full swing. The commissioning of the new facility is planned for late 2024. The expansion and the automated rail loading facility will enable Nabaltec to achieve the targeted transshipment of 70,000 to 140,000 tons of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide per year. The contract between Rhenus Weserport and Nabaltec has been concluded for a period of 10 years, with an option for extension.

Photo: © Rhenus