The port of Antwerp handled 111.38 million tonnes of freight during the first six months of this year, 2.8 per cent more than in the same period last year. Container freight once more performed well after a number of exceptional years, with an increase of 2.5 per cent in terms of tonnage to 61.29 million tonnes and 1.9 per cent in terms of standard boxes to 5.14 million TEU.
After the previous record years these figures inspire further confidence. “We have achieved them against a background of already good performance,” declares Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “In 2016 Antwerp was one of the few ports in the Hamburg-Le Havre range to achieve growth figures. If after that we can once more produce a positive report then we have every reason for satisfaction.”
But he also warns: “We have to look ahead; these volumes also demonstrate the need for additional container capacity in the port of Antwerp. We will do everything necessary to give the port companies the oxygen that they need in order to prosper.”
Ro/ro freight for its part experienced particularly strong growth, up 9.2 per cent to 2.56 million tonnes. The number of cars handled rose by 5.0 per cent to 651,363 units. Conventional breakbulk too expanded rapidly in comparison with the same period last year. By the end of June the figure stood at 5.37 million tonnes, representing growth of 13.0 per cent.
The steel volume rose even more strongly in comparison with 2016, up by 17.6 per cent. The growth was particularly strong (24.4%) on the import side, thanks among other things to larger volumes arriving from India but exports were also up by 8.8 per cent.
After the first six months the volume of liquid bulk handled stood at 36.04 million tonnes, up 1.8 per cent. Crude oil and chemicals also did well, up by 34.0 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively. Oil derivatives on the other hand were at more or less the same level compared with the same period last year, down by just 0.5 per cent.
The amount of dry bulk handled during the first two quarters rose by 1.1 per cent. Ores did particularly well (up 27.7%), which is not surprising in view of the increase in steel exports. Fertilisers too were among the growth categories, at 3.3 per cent. Only kaolin (down 10.3%) and gravel (down 18.4%) experienced difficulties in comparison with the same period last year.
A total of 7,137 seagoing ships called at Antwerp during the first six months, 1.4 per cent fewer than last year. On the other hand the gross tonnage was up by 3.2 per cent, to 205,259,923 GT.
