After some turbulent years for international trade, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has posted positive results for the first quarter of 2024.
The total cargo throughput of Europe's second-largest port totalled more than 70 million metric tonnes in the first three months of the year – 2.4% more than the same period last year. "In a complex geopolitical and macroeconomic context, this performance underscores the port's resilience," port authorities announced in a press release. Economic uncertainty and inflation caused demand for container shipping to fall sharply worldwide in 2023.
The uptick in activity is reflected in the total transhipment of containers, which picked up again in February. Meanwhile March saw the best figures since 2021. Compared with the first quarter of 2023, total container throughput rose 8.6% in metric tonnes.
Throughput volumes for conventional goods, such as steel and fruit, are also growing again. "Although throughput fell 7.8% compared to the same period last year, it grew 6.9% compared to the last quarter of 2023," the press release stated.
Container terminal Deurganckdok. Credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
"As a world port, we are directly affected by continuing geopolitical challenges. This again showed in the last quarter," said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges. "The fact that we can achieve growth in spite of this proves our resilience in unpredictable times," he added.
The port reasserted its ambition to become a green port in line with energy transition objectives and to be climate-neutral by 2050. On Monday 1 April the port saw the first methanol (a low Carbon fuel) refuelling of a sea-faring vessel. The NextGen Demo innovation hub has been created to foster sustainable innovations in the fields of feedstock raw materials and energy transition.
