Port of Antwerp-Bruges Posts Mixed Results Amid Global Trade Volatility

Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Container Throughput Stabilizes

Following a strong first half of the year, container volumes dipped by 2.4% in the third quarter. For the nine-month period, container throughput was up 1.1% in tonnes and 1.6% in TEUs. This slowdown follows the restructuring of global shipping alliances, which has helped reduce congestion and improve vessel turnaround times.

The port's market share in the Hamburg-Le Havre range dipped by 0.7 percentage points to 29.8%, primarily due to limited terminal capacity. The Extra Container Capacity Antwerp (ECA) project is being implemented to address this bottleneck.

Diverging Trends in Cargo Segments

Conventional cargo remained stable, supported by a recovery in steel imports.

Liquid bulk fell by 13.5%, impacted by weaker petroleum exports and a sluggish chemical sector. Growth in biofuels and energy gases partially offset this decline.

Dry bulk saw an 8.9% decrease, mainly attributed to lower fertilizer volumes.

RoRo transport increased by 3.3%, driven by strong automotive imports from China and higher throughput of trucks and used vehicles.

Impact from US Trade

Trade with the United States, the port's second-largest partner, grew by 15% in the first nine months. Container volumes and liquid bulk were the primary drivers of this growth. However, U.S. import tariffs led to a sharp drop in steel exports during the third quarter. LNG and liquid bulk imports remained strong, reinforcing the port's role as a hub for alternative energy flows.

Outlook

Port CEO Jacques Vandermeiren stated that the port remains resilient despite global uncertainties. He noted, “Our market share decline was mainly due to congestion earlier this year. With new capacity on the way, we expect recovery. These figures underline both the resilience of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the ongoing impact of geopolitical and economic shifts.”

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container-News)

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