Figures at Antwerp Port on the Rise

The Port of Antwerp handled 98,229,046 tonnes of freight in the first six months of 2014, an increase of 2.7% compared to the same period last year. Container freight once more contributed to growth in figures, with liquid bulk continuing the upward trend, too.

The container freight volume rose by 4.0% during the first six months, to 53,553,954 tonnes.

This corresponds to 4,416,132 TEU, an increase of 2.9%.

Ro/ro freight for its part continued to perform well during the past six months, with a volume of 2,346,506 tonnes, 1.3% more than the same period last year, although the number of cars handled was down slightly (by 1.4%) to 643,164.

Conventional breakbulk on the other hand produced negative figures, down by 6.0% to 5,028,876 tonnes.

The liquid bulk volume rose during the first half of the year by 4.0% to 30,429,085 tonnes. Petroleum derivatives experienced strong growth of 7.8%, reaching 22,380,646 tonnes.

Chemicals and crude oil on the other hand suffered a decline, down respectively by 4.2% to 5,484,968 tonnes and 7.4% to 2,363,517 tonnes.

The dry bulk volume came to 6,870,625 tonnes, a decrease of 5.0% compared with the same period last year.

During the first six months of this year 6,991 ships called at Antwerp, 3.4% fewer than in the same period last year.

On the other hand the gross tonnage rose by 1.0% to 165,121,359 GT, thus confirming the trend towards fewer but larger and more heavily laden ships being served at Antwerp.