Port of Antwerp-Bruges witnesses growth in H1 2024

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Port of Antwerp-Bruges witnesses growth in H1 2024

The overall throughput of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 143.2 million tonnes in the first six months of this year, up 3 per cent from the same period last year.

A port official explained: “This upward trend, which started in the first quarter driven by increased demand for container transport, is now extending to other product categories as well. This is despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and an uncertain macro-economic climate.”

© Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Additionally, container throughput improved in the first quarter, after a global slowdown caused by economic uncertainty and inflation.

This increase continued in the second quarter. Meanwhile, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope has become the ‘new normal’.

This resulted in an increase in overall container throughput of 6.8 percent in tonnes and 4.1 per cent in TEU (6.6 million TEU) compared to the first half of 2023.

Throughput volumes of conventional breakbulk also showed an upward trend. This started in the first quarter, following a weak final quarter of 2023.

Despite throughput in the first half of the year being 6.2 per cent lower than the same period last year – due to a 12.6 per cent decrease in imports and a 4.5 per cent increase in exports, throughput improved in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. 

READ: Port of Antwerp-Bruges joins Sweden-Belgium green shipping corridor

In the past six months, throughput of iron and steel has remained more or less stable (+0.6 per cent), with a growth in exports (+7.4 per cent) and a drop in imports (-3.7 per cent).

This contrasts with the first quarter, which experienced a growth in imports and a decline in exports.

Although most other goods continued to show a decline compared to the same period last year, the throughput of these products increased compared to the first quarter. 

RoRo dropped in the first half of 2024 by 5.7 per cent – a minor improvement compared to the end of the last quarter.

The congestion at the RoRo terminals persists due to the altered business model of the car manufacturers stockpiling at the ports, decreased demand and delayed exports caused by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.

Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels, on the other hand, rose by 2.4 per cent. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.6 per cent) was more than compensated by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+35 per cent), Scandinavia (+18 per cent) and Ireland (+1.4 per cent). 

READ: Port of Antwerp-Bruges gains ISO 50001 certificate

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “The past half year has certainly not been without challenges. But despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions, a still fragile economic climate and farmers’ protests, we are continuing with positive figures once more, showing even stronger growth in the first quarter.

Alongside container throughput, other product groups are also experiencing a positive trend. Moreover, despite these challenges, we remain committed to advancing our pioneering role in the energy transition, including initiatives such a shore power projects and truck charging infrastructure.”  

In June, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported a container on fire at Waaslandhaven, leading to the temporary suspension of terminal operations.

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