Slight growth for port of Antwerp-Bruges
The port of Antwerp-Bruges has increased its cargo throughput by 3 per cent compared to the first half of last year, according to half-yearly figures published on Thursday.
The port handled 143 million tonnes of goods in the first half of this year. "This upward trend, which was initiated in the first quarter by the increasing demand for container transport, is now also continuing in other product groups," the port said in a press release.
"Despite the geopolitical tensions and the uncertain macroeconomic context, we continue to invest," it said. The port's previous half-year figures looked weaker, with a 5.5 per cent decline in cargo throughput.
Global slowdown
The drop in 2023 was mainly due to the global slowdown in demand for container traffic, inflation and high energy prices. Since the beginning of the year, however, container throughput has picked up again.
Since tensions have flared up in Yemen and the Red Sea, many ships have been diverted via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. In Antwerp, this led to a 6.8 per cent increase in total container throughput compared to the first half of 2023. The volume of conventional cargo, such as steel and fruit, is also on the rise.
Positive figures
CEO Jacques Vandermeiren is pleased with the turnaround. "The first six months were certainly not without challenges," he said. "But despite the fragile economic environment and the farmers' protests, we are once again posting positive figures, and even strengthening the growth of the first quarter. So we are well on track to make 2024 a year in which we achieve a lot in all areas."
At North Sea Port, cargo throughput remained stable in the first half of this year, figures published on Tuesday showed. In 2023, the merger of the ports of Ghent, Vlissingen and Terneuzen saw an 11 per cent drop due to the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO YORICK JANSENS
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