Antwerp-Bruges remains strong overall as bulk cargoes decline

(Posted on 29/01/26)

Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and industrial action weighed on the activities of Port of Antwerp-Bruges in 2025. Total throughput declined but remains broadly in line with previous years. Container traffic remained stable, confirming the port’s role as a logistics hub and underlining the need for additional capacity. In 2026, Port of Antwerp-Bruges will continue to focus on infrastructure, transition and safety as the foundations for long-term sustainable growth.

Dry bulk fell by 12.1%, mainly due to lower volumes of fertilizers, coal and sand. Throughput of iron and steel fell by 1.7%, while other conventional general cargo flows increased by a combined 14.4%. Conventional general cargo ended the year with a 1.6% increase, supported by strong volumes in the fourth quarter.

2025 for Port of Antwerp-Bruges was marked by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. The war in Ukraine, trade conflicts between the United States, Europe and China, and volatile global trade coincided with prolonged congestion at container terminals and an unprecedented level of industrial action.

Unexpectedly, the United States emerged as the largest trade partner, accounting for 31.3 million tonnes of throughput, supported by higher LNG imports. Traffic fluctuated strongly throughout the year, partly due to anticipation of import duties and a decline from the second quarter onwards. Higher US tariffs had a dampening effect on exports of iron, steel and cars, among others.

At the same time, container imports from China increased by 3.8%, further widening the imbalance in container flows with the Far East. China was already the main country of origin for containers and became the leading origin for cars in 2025.

In Zeebrugge, the European ban on transshipment of Russian LNG to non-EU destinations negatively impacted energy volumes.

Operationally, the logistics chain was also under pressure. Between January and July, disrupted sailing schedules, rerouted cargo, and the simultaneous phasing out of previous container alliances and start-up of new alliances added extra pressure to container logistics. Additionally, around 25 days of industrial action disrupted all cargo segments, resulting in an estimated total loss of 2.4 million tonnes, equivalent to about 1% of annual throughput.

Against this backdrop, Port of Antwerp-Bruges ended 2025 with total maritime throughput of 266.5 million tonnes, a 4.1% decline compared with 2024, but broadly in line with previous years. The port remains a strong import–export hub, but in 2025 most cargo types reflected a shift towards a higher share of imports.

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