Containers help power Antwerp’s growth

Container volumes rose 4.3% to 4.4m teu (53m tonnes) in comparison to the January-June period in 2010. The container trade has recovered particularly well after the recession, having last year already exceeded the record level (in tonnes) previously achieved in 2008; the port claims to have experienced “the strongest growth on the Hamburg – Le Havre [port] range”.

Ro-ro expanded by 15.8% to 2.1m tonnes, with the number of cars handled rising by 19.1% to 526,841 units. Commodities within conventional and break-bulk trades had mixed results, although overall the sector experienced growth, with 16.9% (6.4m tonnes) more freight being handled in the first six months. Bulks rose 21.5% to 34.3m tonnes, mainly due to the strong growth in liquid bulk. Dry bulks rose by 2.3% to 10m tonnes.

The number of seagoing ships calling at the port rose by 7.3% to 7,745.