Container volume up by more than 19%
in first 9 months of 2010

Antwerp, 18 October 2010

During the first nine months of this year the port of Antwerp handled more than 132 million tonnes of freight (132,188,379 tonnes). This represents a rise of 13.2% compared with the same period last year, when the volume was almost 117 million tonnes. These figures bring Antwerp back to the same level as before the recent recession. If the present trend continues, the Port Authority expects to close 2010 with a volume of 175 million tonnes.

The container volume in Antwerp was up by 19.4% in comparison with the same period last year, from 64.6 to 77.1 million tonnes. In terms of standard containers (twenty-foot equivalent units) it passed the level of 6 million TEU. During the first three quarters a volume of 6.3 million TEU was achieved, an increase of 16.9%. This brings the container volume back to the level of 2008, the best year ever for the port of Antwerp.

The volume of bulk freight rose by 4.8% in the first nine months of 2010, to 44 million tonnes. There was a particularly sharp rise in dry bulk, which increased by 14.4% to 14.6 million tonnes. The volumes of fertiliser (3,553,770 tonnes, up 81.1%) and ore (2,423,601 tonnes, up 23%) both rose considerably, while coal was down by 19.5%, to 3,877,979 tonnes. Liquid bulk for its part crept up by half a percent to 29.3 million tonnes, making it one of the most stable segments during the recession. The tonnage of oil derivatives (17,632,398 tonnes) was down by 7.4%, mainly due to a weaker second quarter. The volumes of crude oil (3,358,504 tonnes, up 13.3%) and chemicals (7,950,603 tonnes, up 19%) both expanded considerably.

Conventional/breakbulk freight experienced growth of 6.3%, with 8.4 million tonnes being loaded and unloaded in the period from January to September. Steel products (4.8 million tonnes) and fruit (980,915 tonnes) were up by 8.5% and 4% respectively, while wood cellulose and paper (832,242 tonnes) were down by 10.2%. With these figures conventional/breakbulk is limping behind the performance achieved by containers. Antwerp Port Authority is nevertheless pursuing its efforts undiminished in order to attract additional trade in this category.

In the ro/ro sector (2.7 million tonnes) the port of Antwerp experienced an expansion of 14.9%. The volume of cars handled rose by 22.8%, with 670,990 cars being loaded or unloaded during the past nine months.

The number of seagoing ships calling at the port was up by 5.3%, to 11,015. The gross tonnage for its part rose by 7.3% to 214,668,658 GT.

Antwerp Port Authority, press release