Port of Antwerp Bruges' quarterly figures reflect resilience
(Posted on 18/04/24)
The total cargo throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges amounted to 70.4 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year, a rise of 2.4% compared to the same period last year. In an ongoing complex geopolitical and macroeconomic context, this performance, driven by a return to growth in container throughput, underscores the port's resilience.
While outgoing flows of dry bulk rose by 9. 7%, incoming flows fell by 24.4%, resulting in a fall of 12.1% in the dry bulk segment. Now that the energy crisis has abated somewhat, demand for coal has fallen sharply (-68.6%). Throughput of fertilizers, the largest product category within dry bulk, has recovered since the last quarter of 2023 (+33.9%), especially in imports. Throughput of non-ferrous ores (+47.3%), and scrap metal (+5.7%) also grew. Lower demand from the construction sector affected throughput of sand and gravel (-12.5%) and cereals are increasingly being transported in containers rather than in bulk (-43.7%).
Throughput volumes of conventional general cargo also showed an upward trend again. Although throughput decreased by 7.8% compared to the same period last year, it grew by 6.9% compared to the last quarter of 2023. ? Throughput of iron and steel remained unchanged, with incoming flows growing (+1.4%) and outgoing flows falling (-3.8%). Most other goods recorded a decline compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Throughput of liquid bulk held up relatively well, recording a slight decline of 0.9%, with outgoing flows increasing by 4.2% but incoming flows falling by 4.1%. There was growth in the throughput of fuel oil (+25.2%), gasoline (+12.1%) and LNG (+10%). Despite the competitive pressure on the European chemical industry due to the high cost of energy, raw materials and labour, throughput of chemicals and naphtha rose by 5.2% and 12% respectively, thanks to a recovery in demand. Throughput of diesel recorded a drop (-40%), as did throughput of LPG (-11.5%) and liquid fuels in total (-11.4%).
After economic uncertainty and inflation led to a global slowdown in demand for container shipping in 2023, container throughput picked up again from February, with March even witnessing the best monthly throughput since March 2021. This resulted in a rise in total container throughput of 8.6% in tonnes and 6% in TEUs (3,287,000 TEUs), compared to the first quarter of 2023. Port of Antwerp-Bruges' market share in container handling in the Hamburg - Le Havre Range grew by 0.3 percentage points in 2023, to 29.9%.
Roll-on/roll-off traffic decreased by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2024. The ongoing congestion at RoRo terminals resulted in a decrease in throughput of all transport equipment (-9%). This is mainly due to lower throughput of used cars (-52.5%), as well as high & heavy (-25%), trucks (-23.9%) and new cars (-5.5%). Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels grew by 1.7%. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.4%) was offset by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+31.5%), Ireland (+6.4%) and Scandinavia (+13.5%).
In the first quarter of 2024, 4,855 sea-going vessels called at the port, a decrease by 1.8%. The gross tonnage of these vessels fell by 2.4%.
Latest News
New customs declaration process launched in Belgium
(Posted on 07/05/25)Inbound Release Platform (IRP) has been operating since 1 April 2025. This innovative solution, which... Read more
Kale to develop Oman’s national port communication system
(Posted on 07/05/25)Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), along with its local partner Novel Muscat, has been awarded the contract... Read more
Estonian-German ports strengthen bilateral relations
(Posted on 01/05/25)Participants at the first German-Estonian Port Days, have demonstrated the impressive way in which bilateral... Read more
Teesport Offshore Gateway - a multi-million pound investment in the River Tees
(Posted on 29/04/25)One of the UK’s major port groups, PD Ports has announced its ambition to develop one of the UK... Read more
Port of Amsterdam achieves CO? reduction target
(Posted on 28/04/25)Port of Amsterdam has achieved its CO? reduction target. The Port of Amsterdam aimed to reduce its corporate... Read more
NSBT celebrates launch of new third berth in Freetown
(Posted on 22/04/25)Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) is celebrating the operational launch of a new third berth... Read more
Greenhouse gas emissions in port of Rotterdam down by 8%
(Posted on 17/04/25)Greenhouse gas emissions at companies in the port decreased by 1.7 Mton (8%) in 2024 compared to 2023... Read more
Raw materials delivered to British Steel through Immingham
(Posted on 15/04/25)Following the UK government’s passing of an emergency law to take control of British Steel, vital... Read more
Rotterdam takes important step in making shipping more sustainable
(Posted on 15/04/25)Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare have successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between... Read more
Bulgarian port’s first order for new Konecranes Gottwald MHCs
(Posted on 03/04/25)BMF Port Burgas AD (BMF), one of Bulgaria’s largest port operators, has ordered two Generation... Read more
