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Strong Container Transhipment Drives Growth at Port of Antwerp-Bruges Despite Market Challenges

Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s key maritime hubs, reported steady cargo transhipment growth, recording 210.5 million tonnes for the first nine months of 2024—up 3% from last year. This growth, mainly propelled by strong container transhipment, comes amid persistent geopolitical and economic challenges that have impacted other product categories. To secure its future, the port has continued to focus on sustainable investments and innovations tailored toward energy transition and industrial advancement.

Container throughput saw a significant 8.9% increase by tonnage, while container volume rose 6.8% to over 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the first three quarters. This rise highlights the port’s stable position in the competitive Hamburg-Le Havre range, where it gained 0.8% market share this year, reaching a 30.7% share of container handling. The reefer (refrigerated container) sector showed impressive growth of 9.7%, driven by the port’s strategic advantages, such as efficient maritime connections and specialized handling facilities, serving a range of temperature-sensitive goods including food and pharmaceuticals.

The picture for conventional cargo, however, was mixed. While the segment saw some resilience in the second quarter, transhipment levels dropped in the third quarter, leading to an overall 4.8% decrease compared to 2023. Key contributors were weaker demand in sectors like automotive and construction, with declines noted in cargoes such as iron, steel, wood, and building materials. However, the non-containerized reefer segment saw a modest 4.1% rise, providing a slight offset to the overall decline.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) traffic at the port saw a 5.5% decline. Notably, car transhipment pressures eased, though only due to reduced arrivals rather than speedier turnover. Shipments of high and heavy equipment dropped by 23.5%, trucks by 10.3%, and second-hand vehicles by a sharp 42.6%. New car volumes, after a recent surge, declined by 11.4%. Unaccompanied cargo via RoRo increased by 2.8%, buoyed by rising traffic from Spain, Portugal, and Scandinavia, offsetting declines from the UK.

In the dry bulk sector, volumes fell 1.4%, influenced mainly by a drastic 55.3% drop in coal shipments. However, excluding energy products, dry bulk grew by 9.5%, with fertilizers (up 30.6%) and non-ferrous ores (up 4.8%) performing particularly well. Other building materials also saw modest growth. The port’s strategic focus on fertilizers reflects a rebound from last year’s challenges, including sanctions and high gas prices.

Liquid bulk transhipment experienced a slight dip of 2.5%, with a notable fall in LNG and diesel volumes due to softer demand. However, certain segments saw growth, including LPG, naphtha, and biofuels, with biofuels spiking by 52.5%. While the chemicals sector is still under strain from high operational costs and subdued global demand, the port recorded a 9.3% increase in chemical throughput, partly fueled by biofuel demand and a surge in basic chemicals and gases.

Zeebrugge, part of the port complex, saw a 17.5% rise in cruise passengers with 143 cruise ship arrivals, while overall ship arrivals to the port dropped 2%, with vessel tonnage down 4.8%.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, emphasized the port’s resilience, underscoring its role in sustaining growth through container strength despite market complexities. Recent strategic investments include sustainable initiatives like the development of Europe’s largest public charging infrastructure for electric trucks in Antwerp and new truck parking with charging facilities in Zeebrugge. Furthermore, the CHERISH2O project, aiming to recycle industrial wastewater, underpins the port’s role as a circular economy leader.

For Antwerp-Bruges, resilience continues to translate into opportunity. As officials like Port Chairman Johan Klaps and Bruges Mayor Dirk De fauw noted, investments in sustainability and strategic growth, such as the plastic recycling facility projects, signal confidence in both the port and the future of European industry.

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