DP World invests €48m in Antwerp cold chain hub

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DP World will invest an initial €48 million in a temperature controlled logistics hub at the Port of Antwerp, expanding its capacity for pharmaceutical, healthcare and perishable cargo near the Antwerp Gateway container terminal.

The first phase forms part of a longer term development programme expected to reach approximately €100 million through additional infrastructure investments. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027, subject to permits, with completion anticipated in the second quarter of 2028.

The development will occupy an 83,000 square metre site and provide more than 55,000 square metres of specialised warehouse capacity. Its position beside Antwerp Gateway is intended to connect cold storage directly with terminal handling, ocean services and inland distribution.

The warehouse and adjoining office space are being designed primarily for temperature controlled healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics. These cargoes require close control over storage conditions and transfer times because even a short temperature deviation can affect product quality.

Around half of the warehouse capacity will be allocated to perishables, including bananas and other fresh produce. Multiple temperature zones will allow different cargo types to be stored under their required conditions.

The hub will also serve customers in the chemicals and technology industries. Planned value added services include cargo consolidation, deconsolidation and specialised handling, allowing shipments to be prepared for onward distribution within the same logistics complex.

By placing these services beside the container terminal, DP World aims to reduce the number of separate facilities involved in each cargo movement. For temperature sensitive products, every additional transfer can resemble another link in a chain that must remain intact from the vessel to the final customer.

The facility will have access to road, rail and inland waterways, connecting Antwerp with destinations across Belgium and the wider European market. Customers will be able to combine ocean transport, terminal handling, warehousing and inland distribution through one location.

This arrangement is particularly relevant for importers of pharmaceuticals and fresh produce, where customs procedures, storage availability and inland transport schedules must remain closely coordinated. Delays at any point can shorten a product’s usable shelf life or disrupt planned deliveries.

Rainer Schmid, Chief Commercial Officer for Europe at DP World, said customers increasingly required logistics services that combined operational efficiency with reliability as supply chains became more specialised and time sensitive.

“This investment expands our temperature controlled logistics capabilities in Antwerp and creates high quality warehouse capacity ready to support customers with strategically located logistics solutions,” Schmid said.

He added that locating the facility near Antwerp Gateway would provide faster access to port, warehouse and inland transport services from one site, strengthening the company’s offering to the healthcare, pharmaceutical and perishables sectors.

The project is being developed with logistics property specialist Montea and Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever, known as MLSO. It follows the award of the concession for the development site and represents the next phase of DP World’s logistics expansion in Antwerp.

Xavier Van Reeth, Country Director Belgium at Montea, said the site brought together demand, accessibility and room for future growth.

“The Port of Antwerp is one of Europe’s premier logistics hubs, and this project adds high quality logistics capacity at a unique port location,” Van Reeth said.

The building will be partially refrigerated and designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification. The standard assesses areas including energy use, water consumption, materials, waste management, transport connections and the environmental performance of a building.

Boudewijn Vlegels, chairperson of MLSO, said the investment would support the Waaslandhaven’s position as a gateway for international trade. He said projects of this kind could contribute to sustainable economic development by using strategic port land efficiently while supporting the region’s long term competitiveness.

DP World did not disclose the expected annual throughput of the hub, its refrigeration capacity or the number of jobs that the development is expected to create.