Annual Report 2025
Collaboration as a foundation in a changing world
In a rapidly changing world, supply chain collaboration was more important than ever in 2025. Geopolitical tensions, increasing disruptions, new legislation, further digitalisation and stricter cybersecurity requirements all led to a further increase in chain dependencies. Logistics chains can only continue to operate safely, efficiently and resiliently through collaboration. Against this backdrop, Portbase played an increasingly important connecting role for the entire Dutch port community.
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A growing community
The community around the Port Community System (PCS) grew substantially in 2025. The number of users rose to 34,000 (2024: 29,000), representing 7,200 organisations (2024: 6,200). Forwarders and shippers in particular registered as new participants following the introduction of the Secure Chain in Rotterdam. As the community grows, more data can be shared. The total annual added value of Portbase services rose to €630 million, an increase of 14.5%.
7.200
Organisations
Healthy financial foundation
The growth in the number of participants in the PCS contributed to revenue increasing to €31.4 million (+17%) over the past year. In addition to increased revenue from community services and major programmes, this increase resulted from additional investments in infrastructure and general services to support resilience measures by the port companies.
After several years of investment and a result close to break-even, Portbase focused on strengthening financial resilience and sound business operations in 2025. This led to a positive result of 5.7% of turnover, amounting to a post-tax profit of €1.8 million.
31,4 mln.
Turnover
1,8 mln.
Profit
An agile organisation ready for the future
Due to increased demand for our services and greater complexity, the Portbase organisation grew slightly in 2025. On average, we employed 154 FTEs (2024: 148 FTE). With a view to the future, we started a process to further strengthen our internal structure and governance. The focus here is particularly on agility, professionalisation and an inclusive culture in which employees feel safe, heard and valued. This foundation is essential to be able to serve the community even better.
154
FTE
Stable and reliable digital platform
The Port Community System (PCS) proved its reliability again in 2025. Availability was 99.83% and the delivery reliability of our development teams was 95%. At the same time, increasing digitalisation and the interconnectedness of processes continue to make the logistics chain more vulnerable: disruptions in one link have an ever-greater impact on the entire chain.
99,83%
Availability PCS
Resilience remains a priority
With a view to ensuring the continuous availability, reliability and security of the PCS, resilience was a strategic priority in 2025. Standards for data management and IT security were further tightened. By obtaining SOC2 Type 1 certification, we can objectively demonstrate that Portbase operates according to strict rules in this area. This also ensures compliance with the requirements of the upcoming Cybersecurity Act (NIS2 Directive). This is an important development given the position Portbase holds in the chain.
Pursuant to Section 15 of the Digital Services Act, we can report that there was no form of content moderation based on orders from authorities, reports or complaints from users, or otherwise in 2025.
SOC2 Type 1
Received certification
More and more collaboration
To make the Dutch ports smarter and more efficient, collaboration with public and private parties intensified further. We determine the Portbase course through regular consultations with our shareholders, Supervisory Board, Strategic Advisory Board, Client Panels, and government bodies such as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Customs and port authorities.
In various public and/or private configurations, we also collaborated on the next steps in digitalisation in 2025. Strategic consultations were initiated with Customs to make customs-related port processes more effective and stronger, and to support more intensive collaboration. Within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management’s Digital Logistics Infrastructure (DIL) programme, we collaborated with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Customs, port of Rotterdam, port of Amsterdam, Cargonaut, and TNO via Living Labs on a digital framework of agreements for federated data sharing. Examples from the past year include the rollout of a Container Tracking System for more efficient Temporary Storage Area (TSA) administration for Customs, the implementation of a Connected Trade Network (CTN) for information exchange between seaports and the hinterland, and the introduction of the Secure Chain.
Coordination of the Secure Chain
The implementation of the Secure Chain for the deepsea sector in the port of Rotterdam was virtually completed in 2025. Portbase played a facilitating and connecting role in this transition, initiated by a broad public-private partnership. Incoming containers are now released securely and reliably without PIN codes. As a result, PIN code fraud has virtually disappeared. The introduction led to a large influx of new PCS participants and consequently to significantly more data sharing.
Responding to new laws and regulations
There were also far-reaching changes in logistics legislation in 2025. The impact of this on our community was significant. For efficient implementation, public-private collaboration was essential:
- The introduction of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) in Europe required a transition to a renewed declaration system for the maritime sector. In close collaboration with Customs, we successfully connected all Dutch agents to this system via the PCS.
- Through the European Maritime Single Window environment Regulation (EMSWe), the European Union aims to enable more efficient information exchange between vessels and port authorities. For the Dutch implementation, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management decided to seek synergy with existing digitised port processes. In collaboration with the port of Rotterdam and port of Amsterdam, the Maritime National Single Window is being integrated into the PCS.
Innovation for ports, hinterland and data sharing
In 2025, Portbase made further progress in several areas:
- All Dutch harbour masters are connected to PCS. Following the connectionof the ports of Terneuzen and Vlissingen, there is now national coverage.
- Thanks to improvements in MyData, organisations can share their data even more securely and in a more controlled manner, on their own terms.
- Progress was made towards the hinterland via Rail Connected, a collaborative programme involving the port of Rotterdam and the business community. Rail parties now have real-time visibility of train compositions and expected arrival times at terminals. The new Railwise dashboard gives participants greater insight into the efficiency, reliability and use of the rail network in the port of Rotterdam.
- For road transport, we continued to develop Port Alert together with the port of Rotterdam and TLN. As a basis for dynamic planning, Port Alert increasingly provides drivers and planners with real-time information about congestion and disruptions in the port of Rotterdam.
- Shippers and forwarders need the Cargo Controller or Cargo Release Manager services to participate in the Secure Chain. In addition, Cargo Controller offers full visibility of the import process, including the option for API integration. More and more companies are making use of this. The extensive data sharing within this service gives companies genuine control over their import flows.
Sustainability as a structural part of the services
Portbase’s own CO₂ footprint (Scope 1 and Scope 2 ) dropped to virtually zero in 2025. Our ambition is to be a climate-neutral organisation by 2030. To support this ambition, we also started further reducing Scope 3 emissions. For our community, we use an emissions reduction dashboard to provide insight into the potential CO₂ savings enabled through the use of Portbase services. Last year, this amounted to approximately 249,000 tonnes of CO2. Portbase also contributed to sustainability internationally through knowledge sharing within the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA).
249.000 ton CO2
Potential emissionreduction
Positive customer satisfaction and a call for greater control
The biennial customer satisfaction survey among decision-makers in our community yielded an average rating of 7.8 and a significantly higher Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 27. Customers recognise that Portbase helps them work more efficiently, but they also call for an even stronger connecting and guiding role within the community. From our neutral position in port logistics, we are open to taking on a more directorial role in future complex and integrated community changes.
7,8
General satisfaction
Outlook: continuing to build a resilient digital future
In the coming years, we will continue building the smartest ports together with our community. Together, we will increase the potential of data for seamless, sustainable and safe flow of goods. Where possible, we aim to collaborate even more intensively with public and private parties to create innovative solutions for new developments arising from legislation, technology and market trends.
Due to the steady expansion of Portbase services, the importance of the continuous availability, reliability and security of our platform continues to increase. In a rapidly changing world, it is therefore essential to make our services even more resilient. Therefore, in 2026 as well, together with other parties, we will invest significant time, resources and energy in strengthening the resilience of our organisation and systems.
Through collaboration across the supply chain, we are building a solid foundation for the future of Dutch port logistics, of which the Port Community System forms an important part in an ever-changing world.
