Port of Antwerp: Goods transhipment falls 4 per cent year-on-year in first quarter
The transhipment of goods in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges fell by 4 per cent to 67.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, the port authority reported on Tuesday. The impact of US customs duties remains limited so far.
The decline is mainly due to a sharp drop in bulk cargo. However, container traffic continued to grow, up 4.6 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024.
The port recently rose from 15th to 14th place in the global ranking of the largest container ports. Management describe this as a strong performance, given the “geopolitical uncertainties and restructuring within container alliances”.
As the US is the port's second largest trading partner, it “will be watching the coming months very closely, during which the effects of the changing trade climate could become clearer”, the port authority said.
Pressure on capacity
“The transition to new alliances, strikes and congestion in other ports have led to longer container dwell times and therefore increased pressure on terminal capacity.”
Liquid bulk, which includes fuels, is the sector most affected, with a 19.1 per cent decline. The decline in traffic of petrol, naphtha and liquefied natural gas is linked in particular to the poor health of the European petrochemical industry and the EU’s sanctions on Russian gas.
The port also highlights “changing market conditions in Africa”, referring to the increase in oil production in Nigeria, among other factors.
"Europe needs to make a stronger commitment to robust economic policies, to strengthen our industry and anchor its strategic position"
Chemical transhipments increased by 10.9 per cent, mainly due to a 128 per cent rise in biofuels. Without this increase, the chemicals segment would have seen a slight decline.
The impact of US tariffs remains limited for the time being, it says. “Although some companies are showing signs of anticipation, no clear acceleration in exports to the US is noticeable at this stage. Container exports rose by 3.2 per cent, steel experienced a temporary peak in January and car transport remained stable thanks to an increase in the share of trucks and used cars.”
CEO Jacques Vandermeiren highlighted the port's stability in uncertain times, but added: "The protectionist measures taken by the United States make it clear that Europe needs to make a stronger commitment to robust economic policies in order to strengthen our industry and anchor its strategic position.”
#FlandersNewsService | A container ship at the Port of Antwerp © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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