Fertilisers up as Antwerp-Bruges shows growth despite challenges

(Posted on 31/01/25)

Port of Antwerp-Bruges closed 2024 with 2.3% growth in total throughput, amounting to 278 million tons. Despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the port is showing resilience, with a strong increase in container throughput as the main driver. Ambitious plans are ready for 2025 to further strengthen its pivotal role in energy transition and international trade. Dry bulk throughput increased slightly by 0.4%. Coal fell sharply (-35.4%), but fertilisers compensated with 22.9% growth.

Despite a turbulent economic climate, with rising energy prices, geopolitical tensions and increased international competition, Port of Antwerp-Bruges managed to achieve a total throughput of 278 million tons in 2024, a 2.3% increase over 2023.

Containers were the driving force behind this growth, up 8.9% in tonnage and 8.1% in TEUs. Reefer containers increased by 9.2%, accounting for 8.6% of total container traffic. The market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre Range grew by 0.7 percentage points to 30.6% in the first nine months of the year.

Other segments felt the impact of challenging market conditions. The chemicals sector is experiencing its worst years since 2009, while sectors such as construction and automotive were under pressure from high energy and raw material prices and low demand. Instability in the Red Sea and geopolitical tensions led to longer shipping times and uncertainty in international shipping.

Conventional general cargo maintained the status quo (0.1%), with growth in iron and steel throughput (+3.7%) while other product groups declined. RoRo throughput declined 3.4% by 2024, driven by a decline in auto throughput (-10.3%). Liquid bulk experienced a 5.8% decline, mainly due to reduced demand for diesel (-22.3%) and LNG (-21.9%). Chemicals, on the other hand, grew strongly (+14.8%), helped by an increase in biofuels (+60.1%), and despite continued pressure on the European chemicals sector.

In 2024, 20,195 seagoing vessels called at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, a slight increase of 0.2%.

Important steps were again taken toward the ambition of becoming a climate-neutral port by 2050, a priority that remains central in 2025. The focus on the circular economy continues to take shape in NextGen District and the innovation hub NextGen Demo. The CHERISH2O project, aimed at purifying and reusing company wastewater, and the Warmtenet Antwerpen Noord, Belgium's first open-access heat network, also contribute to the port's circular ambitions. In the maritime sector, the first methanol bunkering of a deep-sea vessel marked an important milestone in the development of Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a multifuel port.

With the official introduction of a 16-meter draught in 2024, the port has significantly strengthened its competitive position.

The ambition of Port of Antwerp-Bruges is clear: to continue to play a pivotal role in energy transition and international trade. To strengthen this role, the port combines its position as a catalyst for investment with strategic investments of its own. Cooperation is indispensable in this regard. Through partnerships with various stakeholders, the port manages to connect economic growth, innovation and sustainability and remains an essential link in the international logistics chain.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "Over the past year, we have once again demonstrated our resilience. More than ever, the challenges we face, such as geopolitical tensions, the energy transition and complex permit processes, require cross-border cooperation and a shared vision. Only then will we remain attractive to investors and maintain our strategic role as a pioneer in the industry. In addition, the demand for additional capacity continues to grow louder, while security becomes an increasingly important issue. 2025 will undoubtedly be another year of challenges, but also of opportunities. With our unique mix of logistics, maritime and industry, and our strategic location, we are ready to prove our agility once again."