Antwerp reports 7.2% rise in volumes

During the past 12 months the port handled a total volume of 192.5m tonnes. Container freight expanded by 11% to 78.2m tonnes and in teu terms by 9% to 6.65m teu. The Deurganck dock continued to expand its activities, handling 1.44m teu over the period, an increase of 30% year-on-year.

Conventional/breakbulk freight declined by 15.3%, although the total was still nearly 13m tonnes. There were large decreases in steel (down 15.8%), particularly on the import side, while paper imports were down 11.5%. Bulk cargo rose by 9% to 50m tonnes, with the increase mainly attributable to dry bulk, up by 17.7%.

The amount of liquid bulk was also up, by 3.6%. Chemicals continued their growth (+9.7%), reinforcing Antwerp’s position as a distribution hub for chemical products. The number of seagoing ships calling at the port rose by 0.8% to 12,513, while the gross register tonnage was up by 2.8% to 220.5m GRT.