Antwerp’s sixth record year

(Posted on 24/10/18)

Transhipment continues to register growth in the Port of Antwerp. After record semi-annual figures, the total transhipment after nine months stands at 177,026,550 tonnes – a sharp 6% increase compared with the same period last year. With these results, the port seems to be on track for the sixth record year in a row. The recent wave of investments moreover confirms the port’s appeal and reaffirms its role as a world player. 

The transhipment of dry bulk grew by 1% compared with the same period in 2017. This is due in particular to the bigger transhipment of fertilizers (+11.2%), sand and gravel (+23.9%) and coal (+3,3%), because the other traffic (ores, kaolin, cereals and scrap) were volatile in the previous period and are currently posting a drop.
Liquid bulk posted strong growth figures, up 5.7% to 57,652,877 tonnes. Imports grew by 9.1%, exports by 0.5% which is a considerable recovery after a drop of 12.2% in the first quarter.

After a long period of negative figures, the total breakbulk transhipment is showing the first signs of recovery once again and has posted a slightly positive figure.

Whereas the conventional breakbulk cargo still posted a loss of 6.5% after 6 months by comparison with an exceptionally strong first half of the year in 2017, a slight increase was registered in the third quarter. As a result, the loss on an annual basis was limited to 2.7%. The reason for this is a recovery in iron and steel imports. Steel imports from China registered strong growth in the third quarter, whereas steel imports from Turkey and India dropped further. The surge in steel imports from China can be explained as a reaction to the European Commission’s quota-based safeguard measures. They were introduced in July to protect the European steel market against a possible flooding as a result of the 25% import tariffs imposed on steel by the United States.

Iron and steel exports grew by 4.9% after 9 months. Iron and steel exports to the US were 8% higher than in the same period the previous year. The total transhipment of iron and steel grew by 1.9% after nine months.

Maritime transhipment continues to grow. Container traffic registered robust growth yet again, up by 7.1% (98,436,773 tonnes) compared with the first nine months of 2017. In terms of Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), transhipment grew by 6.8%, to 8,333,523 TEU.

All shipping areas registered growth, both imports and exports, with the sole exception of exports to Central America which registered a slight drop.

Transhipment for the largest shipping area, Europe, registered the strongest growth: 12.4%. Transhipment for North America grew by 8.2% and for Asia by 2.2%. Imports from China after 8 months stand at the status quo more or less, while exports are 6.7% lower. Owing to the Chinese import ban on old paper and plastic waste, export of full containers to China declined and more empty containers are exported.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO, Antwerp Port Authority: “2018 is already a peak year for our port. Not only because of the record figure that we can present yet again, but also because of the wave of investments in recent months. The decision of major players in the chemical industry such as Borealis, Ineos, Nippon, Sea-Mol and Oiltanking/AGT to opt for Antwerp confirms and reaffirms our strong appeal as the largest chemical cluster in Europe. The significance of this wave of investments, to the tune of some €2 billion, cannot be stressed enough. They will make an essential contribution to the sustainable future of our port and to the continuity of our role as the biggest economic driving force of our country.”

Port Alderman, Marc Van Peel,: “Sustainable growth for our port is possible only if we make sure that it remains accessible to people and goods. We are assuming our responsibility on this front, together with the port community. The recent expansion of the route of the successful waterbus is a fine example of a structural solution to the mobility challenge. On the goods transport front, we are aspiring to a modal shift by 2030, with a drop in goods transport by road and an increase by rail and inland navigation.”

Latest News

Hamburg bulks show mixed trends

Throughput of bulk cargo at the Port of Hamburg has experienced a slight recovery over the course of... Read more

LAR in Angola reinforces transport capacity with new wagons

The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has taken an important step this week towards strengthening its transport... Read more

ABP’s Port of Hull welcomes two new build Eco Traders

The Port of Hull recently welcomed two new eco-friendly vessels built for charterer Ahlmark Lines AB... Read more

Port of Detroit awarded $24m by EPA for climate-friendly upgrades

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a historic move toward green infrastructure, has... Read more

Viterra signs deal with ABP in the Humber

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Viterra, one of the world leading grain marketers, have announce... Read more

New Managing Director at TBA Doncaster

From 1st November, TBA’s Doncaster division has a change of leadership.Responsible for the bulk... Read more

Port of Vancouver USA grant to deploy and expand clean energy infrastructure

The Port of Vancouver USA has announced it has been awarded a $22.5 million grant by the U.S. Environmental... Read more

ABP acquires land to fuel future growth

Associated British Ports (ABP) has acquired 21 acres of land on the western side of the Port of Immingham... Read more

MoU to explore development of Vietnam’s ports, logistics and maritime sectors

Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s leading private companies, and AD Ports Group, a diversified, global... Read more

HH-WIN approval provides security for expansion in Hamburg port area

Following an important decision by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs in Berlin and the Federal... Read more